I ndia needs to take a page from Australia’s book and limit children’s access to social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government wants to introduce legislation that will ban children under 16 from social media, and hold platforms responsible for any violations. India should consider this as well.
Social media addiction is resulting in the adultification of children, robbing them of their childhood. Multiple studies have shown that children and adolescents who spend hours on social media are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep cycles. They can also fall prey to cyberbullies and sexual predators.
The proposed legislation is an attempt to protect children from these eventualities. It will allow them to reclaim their childhood–through physical activity and making friends in the real world. Social media addiction is normalising unacceptable behaviour as children addicted to reels keep looking for the next dopamine hit.
Take this instance. A Bengaluru-based social media influencer described how a 10-year-old boy approached her on his bicycle, said hi, and grabbed her breasts before riding away. The woman also narrated that many bystanders chose to empathise with the boy and asked her to spare him because he was a “kid and must have done that unintentionally.
” But who will hold parents accountable? Many platforms like Instagram do not allow children under 13 to open accounts. And the handles of adolescent users are often made priv.