Supreme Court of India Seeks Government Response on Social Media Use by Minors

The Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the Centre regarding a petition that seeks restrictions on social media use by minors. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that there is a need for safeguards and a firewall to protect children in India. The petition was filed by the non profit child rights body Just Rights for Children Alliance. The petition argues that because the Indian Contract Act declares a minor's consent for an agreement to be void, children under 18 should not be permitted to independently create accounts on social media platforms, as doing so requires accepting terms of service and privacy policies. The petition highlights risks such as cyberbullying, trafficking, and sexual exploitation. It suggests that access should only be permitted for lawful and educational content through accounts controlled by parents or guardians. The plea also notes that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 recognizes the vulnerability of children and requires parental consent for processing their personal data. The petition urges the Centre to declare accounts opened by children to be void and requests the court to restrict digital platforms from entering contracts with minors. The court noted that other jurisdictions have taken similar steps, including Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which have implemented bans on social media use for minors under 16.