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Social Media Addiction: In this era of smartphones and the internet, children spend the majority of their time on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook; however, the central government is now preparing to implement strict regulations to protect children from social media addiction, cyberbullying, and objectionable content.

In this regard, S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), clarified in a recent interview that the government is engaged in serious discussions with various stakeholders regarding proposals to limit or restrict access to social media for children under the age of 16. Amidst growing global concerns regarding online safety and the design of addictive platforms, India is also moving towards significant policy changes to safeguard the digital future of children.

**Preparing to Curb Social Media Risks**
Governments worldwide are currently enacting stringent laws regarding children's access to social media. Australia recently passed legislation imposing age restrictions on social media, while several European nations are in the process of implementing strict parental consent and age verification systems. Meanwhile, the IT Secretary stated that India is closely studying these global developments. He noted the need to examine the measures other countries have taken regarding social media, emphasizing that this is a global concern. The issue of social media risks has frequently arisen during discussions with the European Union (EU) and other nations. In India, too, these threats have been discussed extensively across various forums, including parliamentary standing committees.

**Deliberations on Age Verification and Digital Safety**
The primary objective of this government initiative is to protect children from online threats and ensure the accountability of technology platforms. Current discussions are focusing mainly on these aspects. However, officials state that while formulating any new regulatory framework, special care will be taken to ensure the safety of young users without compromising the benefits and creative opportunities offered by digital platforms. The following measures are likely to be adopted. Age Verification: Will this mandate strict digital identity and age checks for creating social media accounts? Curbing Algorithms: Tech companies' addictive algorithms—which keep children glued to their screens—will be regulated. Parental Controls: Parental monitoring of children's online activities will be made more robust and practical.

What will be the government's next move?
The government has clarified that the final decision regarding imposing restrictions on children under 16 or adopting an alternative model will be taken only after an extensive consultation process involving all stakeholders. This initiative is part of the government's broader agenda to address online harms, ensure intermediary accountability, and strengthen emerging AI regulations.

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