Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jan 27: The Goa government is considering the implementation of an Australia-like law to ban the use of social media by children below the age of 16, Tourism and Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Sunday.
Khaunte said the proposal is under active consideration following a growing number of complaints from parents. “We have had a lot of complaints from parents. Social media and some of these platforms are becoming a distraction for children, leading to several social implications,” he told reporters.
Referring to Australia’s recent move, the minister said his department has already studied the relevant policy documents. “Australia has brought in a law ensuring a ban on social media for children below 16. Our IT department has pulled out those papers and is studying them. We will discuss this with the chief minister and, if possible, implement a similar ban. Details will follow,” he said.
Khaunte added that consultations would be held with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant before arriving at any final decision. Stressing the impact of digital platforms on young minds, he said children need greater focus in the age of artificial intelligence so they can grow into responsible citizens and contribute to the future of the state and the country.
Highlighting parental concerns, the minister noted that children are increasingly glued to mobile phones and social media even during family time, creating behavioural and emotional complexities. “The personal space occupied by social media has become very large. We are studying whether a state-wide ban is legally and practically possible,” he said.
According to a statement from the Goa Tourism and IT Ministry, the move was initiated due to a steady rise in complaints from parents over the years.
The development comes days after Andhra Pradesh IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh said his government was also considering an Australia-like ban on social media for children under 16, with a group of ministers formed to study the proposal.
Under Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, social media platforms are required to take reasonable steps to identify and deactivate accounts of users below 16 and prevent new account creation by minors. The law has reportedly led to the removal of millions of accounts across major platforms, while messaging apps, gaming and educational tools remain exempt.