Social media apps on a mobile phone before a new law banning social media use for those under 16 in Australia, on December 9, 2025.
An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a bill to ban social media use for children, bringing India, the world’s largest market for Meta and YouTube platforms, into the escalating global debate about the impact of these platforms on youth health and safety.
The legislator stated yesterday, Friday: “It’s not just about our children’s addiction to social media platforms, but India is also one of the world’s largest data producers for foreign platforms.”
He added: “Based on this data, these companies are developing advanced artificial intelligence systems, effectively turning Indian users into unpaid data providers, while the strategic and economic benefits go elsewhere.”
This move comes after Australia last month became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, a step welcomed by parents and criticized by major tech companies.
France’s National Assembly also supported legislation last week banning children under 15 from using these platforms, while Britain, Denmark, and Greece are considering the same issue.
For their part, Meta, Alphabet (owner of YouTube), and platform X did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
Meta has previously stated that it supports parental control laws but warned governments that “a ban could push teenagers towards less safe and unregulated sites.”
One Billion Internet Users
India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market with 750 million devices and one billion internet users, a key growth market for social media apps that currently have no minimum age requirement.
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The 15-page bill stipulates that no person under the age of 16 is allowed to create or manage a social media account, and any existing accounts they have must be deactivated, asserting: “We demand that full responsibility for verifying user ages be placed on the platforms themselves.”
Although this legislation is a “private member’s bill,” meaning it was not introduced by a federal minister, such initiatives often spark parliamentary debates and influence the drafting of future laws, especially since the legislator belongs to the Telugu Desam Party, a key pillar in Modi’s coalition government.
India
India is a vast South Asian nation with one of the world’s oldest civilizations, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2500 BCE. Its long history includes the rise of major empires, the development of diverse religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and a period of British colonial rule before gaining independence in 1947. Today, it is the world’s largest democracy and a deeply multicultural society known for its rich traditions, languages, and architectural heritage.
Australia
Australia is a continent and nation with a history spanning over 65,000 years of continuous Indigenous culture, followed by British colonization beginning in 1788. It is known for its unique ecosystems, modern multicultural cities, and landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Uluru.
France
France is a country in Western Europe with a rich history that includes the rise and fall of monarchies, the transformative French Revolution, and its role as a major global power. Its cultural sites, such as the Palace of Versailles and the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, are iconic landmarks reflecting centuries of artistic, architectural, and political development.
Britain
Britain is a sovereign island nation in northwestern Europe with a long and influential history, including the Roman occupation, the formation of the medieval kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the expansion of the British Empire. Its cultural and political legacy, from the establishment of parliamentary democracy to the Industrial Revolution, has had a profound global impact. Today, it is a constitutional monarchy comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe with a rich history dating back to the Viking Age, when it was a major seafaring power. Today, it is known for its constitutional monarchy, modern welfare society, and cultural landmarks like the Tivoli Gardens and Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*.
Greece
Greece is a southeastern European country widely regarded as the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games. Its rich history spans from the advanced Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations to the Classical Age of city-states like Athens and Sparta, followed by periods under Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule before gaining independence in the 19th century. The country is famed for its ancient archaeological sites, such as the Acropolis in Athens and the sanctuary of Delphi, alongside its profound cultural influence on art, science, and governance.
Meta
Meta is a technology company founded in 2021, but it is the parent entity of the social media platform Facebook, which was originally launched by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004. The company’s name change to Meta reflects its strategic shift toward building the “metaverse,” a vision for interconnected virtual and augmented reality experiences.
YouTube
YouTube is an online video-sharing platform founded in 2005 that allows users to upload, view, and share content. It has grown from a simple website for personal videos into a global cultural hub and one of the world’s largest search engines, fundamentally changing media consumption and creator economies.
Alphabet
The Alphabet is not a single place or cultural site but a foundational system of written communication that evolved over millennia, with its earliest known forms including the Proto-Sinaitic script around 1850 BCE. It represents a crucial cultural innovation, with the Phoenician alphabet serving as a major ancestor to many modern scripts, including Greek, Latin, and Cyrillic.
X
X is a historic site known for its significant cultural and architectural heritage. It was originally constructed during [specific period or dynasty] and has served various roles throughout its history, such as [mention key historical functions, e.g., a royal palace, religious center, or trading hub]. Today, it stands as a popular destination for visitors interested in its enduring legacy and preservation.
National Assembly
The National Assembly is the legislative body of South Korea, established in 1948 following the country’s first democratic elections. It operates as a unicameral parliament located in Seoul, where its members draft and pass national laws, approve budgets, and oversee the executive branch.
Telugu Desam Party
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a major regional political party in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, founded in 1982 by the former film star N. T. Rama Rao. It was established on the platform of upholding Telugu pride and self-respect, positioning itself as an alternative to the national parties that had dominated the state’s politics.
