India Weighs Age Curbs on Social Media as Adviser Flags Youth Risks

India should consider age-based limits on access to social media platforms, the country’s chief economic adviser said, warning that companies use “predatory” algorithms to maximise user engagement, particularly among young people. In India’s annual economic survey, adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said younger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content, and argued that platforms should be responsible for enforcing age verification and age-appropriate defaults.

The proposal would align India with a growing global trend after Australia banned social media for children under 16, while France, Britain, Denmark and Greece are also examining similar measures. Although the recommendations are not binding, they often influence policy debates in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Nageswaran also urged families to adopt screen-time limits, device-free hours and more offline activities to counter rising digital addiction.

India is a crucial market for social media firms such as Meta and YouTube, with about a billion internet users and no minimum age for platform access. Cheap data plans have fuelled usage, with around 75% of young smartphone users active on social media, the survey said. Nageswaran warned that excessive use is hurting academic performance and productivity, while some Indian states are now studying child-focused restrictions, even as critics argue age-based curbs can be easily bypassed.

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