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The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on children below 13 years from using social media, stating that the issue falls under policy-making.
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih advised the petitioner to approach the appropriate authorities instead, allowing them to submit a representation for consideration. The court stated that if such a representation is made, it should be reviewed within eight weeks.
The plea, filed by Zep Foundation through advocate Mohini Priya, highlighted the negative physical, mental, and psychological effects of social media on young minds. It urged the government to introduce strict age verification mechanisms such as biometric authentication and parental controls for minors aged 13 to 18. Additionally, it sought penalties for social media platforms failing to comply with child protection regulations.
The petitioner argued that unrestricted access to social media was contributing to rising mental health issues among children in India, including anxiety, depression, and addiction. Citing reports from Maharashtra, the plea noted that 17% of children aged 9-17 spend over six hours daily on social media or gaming platforms.
The plea also requested authorities to implement algorithmic safeguards to prevent minors from being exposed to addictive content and called for a nationwide digital literacy campaign to educate parents, teachers, and students about the risks of excessive social media usage. However, the court reiterated that the matter should be addressed through legislative action rather than judicial intervention.
