Bill in Parliament: Children Under 13 May Be Banned From Social Media Without Parental Consent

A new private member’s bill introduced in Parliament proposes to bar children under the age of 13 from creating accounts on social media and online gaming platforms without verified parental consent. According to the proposal, the bill also seeks to prohibit platforms from tracking, profiling, or targeting minors with personalised advertising. The bill was proposed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda and was among two private member’s bills scheduled to be introduced in Parliament on Friday. However, it could not be taken up due to adjournments of the House.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Bill

• Age Limit: Children under 13 could be barred from making accounts on social media and gaming platforms

• Parental Consent: Verified parental consent would be mandatory for minors to create accounts

• Advertising Restrictions: Platforms could be prohibited from tracking or targeting children with personalised ads

• Focus: Online safety, data privacy, and reducing screen time for children

The second bill scheduled was aimed at regulating the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create realistic imitations of people.

What Happens Next?

Private member’s bills rarely become law in India. Only about a dozen have cleared Parliament since Independence. The proposal now awaits discussion and debate in Parliament. The move comes amid growing concerns globally about children’s safety, data privacy, and mental health impacts of social media and online gaming.