The Union Government is considering a separate law to regulate social media use among children under 18. The key feature of the proposed approach is a graded, age-based restriction framework instead of a uniform blanket ban on all children. After stakeholder consultations, the proposed law may be introduced in Parliament during the Monsoon Session. In the 8 March 2026 current-affairs timeline, this is a national-level governance issue.

For exam preparation, the topic links governance, law-making, data protection and online safety for children. Because the reported policy direction is graded and age-based, it is not framed as a simple prohibition. It points instead to calibrated regulation based on age. This raises governance questions on child safety, the role of parents, platform accountability and data protection.

For static GK linkage, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 is relevant because it deals with verifiable parental consent before processing a child’s personal data and avoiding processing that is likely to harm a child’s well-being. In the global context, Australia created a 2024 legal framework requiring platforms to prevent children under 16 from having social media accounts, with the restriction taking effect from 10 December 2025. India’s proposed path is distinct within this debate because it is not a blanket ban but a graded, age-based framework. For RAS and UPSC-style prelims, remember children under 18, a separate law, the Monsoon Session, stakeholder consultations and the age-based framework. In mains, it can be used as an example of digital platform governance, online safety for children and consultation-based policy-making before legislation.