The Karnataka government has announced a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, citing concerns over the adverse effects of excessive mobile usage on young users. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced this during his budget speech on Friday.
“With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16,” the Chief Minister said.
The State’s 2026–27 budget document also revealed the same. It stated that the measure is aimed at protecting children from the harmful impact associated with increased exposure to mobile phones and social media platforms.
With this move, Karnataka becomes the first Indian state to formally bring restrictions on children’s access to social media. It has been in discussion within the Karnataka government for a couple of months as it evaluates measures to protect minors online.
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Andhra Pradesh and Goa are two other states to have previously said that they are considering similar moves.
Apart from the proposed social media restriction, the Budget speech also highlighted the role of educational institutions in shaping the well-being of students.
It noted that schools, colleges and universities play a pivotal role in shaping the health, character and future of students, and said the government will introduce measures to curb drug abuse on campuses.
