From online abuse to child safety: Andhra Pradesh’s plan to curb social media access for children, and the legal hurdles ahead

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh govt is mulling to bring in strict regulations to restrict social media reach to children of a certain age, education minister Nara Lokesh said on Thursday. He said it is an important aspect of protecting children from unnecessary exposure to online content, as they do not have the maturity levels to process information at their age. The govt has already constituted a group of ministers (GoM), headed by Lokesh, to review existing laws regulating social media and to submit recommendations to be brought in at the state level to counter misinformation, fake news, and abusive content against women and children. The GoM was formed following a slew of online abuses against women and the spread of false news, but now it has been decided to expand its mandate. Lokesh said the govt is actively considering restricting social media for students up to a certain age, on the lines of a regulation brought in by Australia, which banned social media access for children below the age of 16 years. The GoM, which includes home minister V Anitha, health minister Satya Kumar Yadav, and I&PR minister K Parda Sarathi, took up an extensive study on various legislations in the country and best practices abroad. As part of its expanded mandate, the GoM is now actively considering adopting Australia’s legislation. “A stronger legal framework may be required, and we will come up with a solution very soon,” Lokesh said. However, as social media regulation is in the Centre’s ambit, the govt is exploring options to bring in a special law at the state level, besides reaching out to social media platforms to find a technological solution. IT secretary Katamaneni Bhaskar said they are exploring technology options to limit usage or stop kids from accessing ageinappropriate material rather than putting a blanket ban. A complete ban may not be enforceable given the options available to access the platforms, he noted. Speaking to TOI, Anitha said the GoM is in the process of doing statistical analysis of social media cases in which children are involved, either as abusers or as victims. “Besides that, the govt has roped in NGOs to study the psychological and behavioural patterns emerging in children below 16 years of age,”she added.