Karnataka Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a proposed ban on social media use by children under 16 in his 2026 state budget speech. The move is framed as a response to rising mobile and online gaming addiction and perceived links to declining academic performance. However, the announcement currently lacks details on enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or a clear implementation timeline, leaving it as a policy signal rather than an immediate compliance requirement.

The proposal sits alongside the central Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which already mandates verifiable parental consent for processing personal data of anyone under 18 and prohibition of children's data for targeted advertising and behavioural tracking under Section 9. While the DPDP Act places obligations on data fiduciaries to verify age and obtain consent, Karnataka's move targets usage by children (and potentially parents) rather than data processing by platforms. Whether this adds a distinct compliance layer will depend entirely on how the state drafts its rules; especially around who bears liability, how "social media" is defined, and what age-verification standards apply at the state level.

The government has also launched the "Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi" campaign, encouraging children to visit libraries instead of spending time on screens, signalling a behavioural-nudge approach in parallel with legal restrictions. For social media, gaming, and edtech companies operating in Karnataka, the key next step is to monitor forthcoming implementing rules. If Karnataka operationalises this ban with enforceable obligations, businesses will need to reconcile state-level usage restrictions with the DPDP Act's consent framework for minors and potentially adapt age-gating, parental consent flows, and content access policies accordingly.