CH NEWS
BENGALURU
Karnataka’s proposed under-16 social media restriction has renewed calls for digital literacy, parental guidance and school-based awareness.
The State announced plans to prohibit social media use among children below 16 in its 2026-27 Budget, but the measure is yet to be fully implemented. Child Online Protection (COP), which conducts digital-parenting programmes, has so far covered 10 schools and signed agreements with two institutions to introduce its school model from the next academic year.
ASER data shows 82.2% of children aged 14-16 know how to use smartphones, with 76% using them for social media and 57% for education.
Experts caution that restrictions alone may not work. Dr Manoj Sharma, consultant psychiatrist at SHUT Clinic, NIMHANS, said children should understand why restrictions are imposed and be encouraged towards alternative activities.
COP founder Sandeep Kumar said parents often struggle to establish appropriate boundaries.
“Most parents are not careless. They are actually very worried. But worry alone doesn’t tell you where to draw the line. If you are too strict, the child feels controlled. If you are too relaxed, the habits can get out of hand,” he said.
COP plans to work with schools and parents to establish age-appropriate digital boundaries through awareness sessions, parental controls and child-focused applications.
Kumar said schools could bridge the gap between parents and children by making digital safety a shared responsibility rather than merely another restriction.