The Andhra Pradesh government is reportedly mulling banning social media platforms for children below the age of 16 years. Speaking with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, state technology minister Nara Lokesh earlier said that the government was studying Australia’s similar ban to formulate a “strong legal framework” to bar children from accessing social media. He reportedly said that children below a certain age should not be on such platforms, adding that they do not fully understand the content they are exposed to, adding that a strong legal framework may be required to address this challenge. ‘As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment,” Lokesh reportedly said. Meanwhile, ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has reportedly doubled down on the plan. TDP’s national spokesperson Deepak Reddy told The Hindu businessline that the move is necessary to protect women and children on social media. “Children below a certain age are not emotionally mature enough to comprehend the negative and harmful content that is freely available online. That is why the Andhra Pradesh government is studying global best practices and examining Australia’s under-16 social media… Read MoreInc42 Media
