Karnataka’s Social Media Ban For Kids Sets Off Political War Of Words With Andhra

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 14:56 IST

The issue has triggered a fresh political one-upmanship between the two southern states over who first flagged the idea of restricting social media use for minors

Even as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh try to address the growing concern over digital addiction among children and its impact on their learning and mental health, the issue has triggered a fresh political one-upmanship between the two southern states over who first flagged the idea of restricting social media use for minors.

Both states acknowledge that at the heart of the matter lies the mental health of children in the age of smartphones and the growing grip of social media on young minds.

The debate sparked off after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, presenting his record 17th State Budget for 2026–27, announced that the government would move to ban social media use for children below the age of 16.

What Siddaramaiah said

“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," Siddaramaiah said while presenting the budget.

The Chief Minister had recently raised concerns about what he described as the troubling rise of digital dependency among children, warning that unchecked gadget use was affecting students’ behaviour, attention spans and mental health.

On February 22, Siddaramaiah, during a meeting with vice-chancellors of state universities at the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, sought their views on restricting mobile phones and social media access for minors under the age of 16. Citing examples of countries such as Australia and other Western nations that have begun regulating social media use among children, Siddaramaiah argued that excessive gadget use was beginning to shape the behaviour and learning patterns of students in worrying ways.

Andhra’s plans

On February 24, the Andhra Pradesh government told its Assembly that it too was studying legislation to regulate social media use by school students. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said a Cabinet sub-committee had been formed to examine ways to regulate social media platforms, curb false propaganda and shield children from harmful online content.

The committee, she said, had already met twice and was examining policy measures adopted in other states, including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. According to the Home Minister, the state has registered 1,384 cases so far relating to objectionable social media posts, with 1,067 people arrested and produced before courts.

The political war of words

The issue soon took a political turn, with Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh suggesting that the idea had first been proposed in his state.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Glad to see Karnataka considering restrictions on social media for those under 16 — an idea we had proposed earlier in Andhra Pradesh to protect young minds from the darker side of the digital world. Sometimes good ideas travel fast," Lokesh wrote.

Lokesh also said the government was studying legal frameworks to ensure age-appropriate access to social media and reduce its damaging effects.

“Trust in social media is breaking down. Children are slipping into relentless usage, affecting their attention spans and education. Women are facing non-stop online abuse. This cannot be ignored," he said.

Alongside the proposed ban, Siddaramaiah’s Budget also outlined measures aimed at strengthening student welfare. The government said one qualified mental health counsellor will be appointed in each of the 204 Block Resource Centres to address mental health concerns among students.

Karnataka also announced steps to tackle drug abuse on campuses through awareness campaigns, counselling centres and stricter discipline in educational institutions.

In addition, the government said it would enact a Rohith Vemula Act to prevent caste-based discrimination in universities and conduct student union elections in colleges and universities to encourage leadership and democratic participation among students.

Proposal to Ban Social Media for Under-13s to Be Implemented Soon: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu

Speaking in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said the government is considering steps to restrict social media access for children below 13 years of age.

Referring to a proposal suggested by IT Minister Nara Lokesh, he said the government will soon launch a programme to prevent children under 13 from accessing social media, likely within the next 90 days. He added that the government is also discussing possible regulations for the 13–16 age group and will take a decision based on wider consensus.

Naidu said the government is committed to ensuring that children are not negatively affected by social media and assured that steps will be taken to protect their well-being.

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