AP Govt Sensation: Clarity on Social Ban For 16 Yr Olds?

The government of Andhra Pradesh has been very solid with the decision making regarding the restriction on social media usage for kids under 16 years old. Now there is a pretty significant development on this matter.

The Andhra Pradesh government is reportedly moving toward a significant decision on regulating social media access for minors, with a group of ministers convening under the leadership of IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday afternoon at 2 PM.

According to sources, the ministerial committee is deliberating on a proposal to ban social media usage for children under the age of 16. The meeting is expected to bring clarity on the government’s intent and the framework it plans to adopt for implementing such a restriction.

The move comes amid growing national and global concern over the impact of social media platforms on the mental health, academic performance, and overall wellbeing of young users.

Several countries have already introduced or proposed similar age-based restrictions, with Australia recently passing landmark legislation banning children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms.

Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has positioned itself as a technology-forward state, and such a proposal from the IT ministry signals a broader policy focus on responsible digital governance.

Minister Lokesh, who has long championed technology initiatives in the state, is expected to outline specific legislative or regulatory steps following the conclusion of the ministerial discussions.

Officials have not yet issued a formal statement, but the outcome of the meeting is expected to set the tone for a potential statewide policy that could serve as a model for other Indian states.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​