Supreme Court seeks government stance on child social media access curbs

The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the central government seeking its response to a petition filed by a school in Indore regarding age-based restrictions on children's access to social media platforms. The court's move comes amid growing concerns over the effects of social media on the physical and mental health of minors across the country.

The plea before the apex court highlights the need for regulatory measures to protect children from potentially harmful content and addictive social media usage patterns. The petitioner contends that without age-appropriate safeguards, young users remain vulnerable to cyberbullying, exploitation, and excessive screen time.

The central government has been asked to file a detailed affidavit outlining its current policies and any proposed measures to address concerns related to children's social media access. The response is expected to include perspectives from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies tasked with overseeing digital platforms and child protection.

The Supreme Court's intervention reflects broader judicial and legislative attention to issues surrounding digital safety for minors in India. The petition aligns with growing international discourse on social media regulation, with several countries implementing or considering age-verification requirements and parental control mechanisms on digital platforms.

The court is expected to examine whether existing guidelines are sufficient or whether additional legislative measures are necessary to establish enforceable age restrictions and content safeguards for children online.