A recent incident in Ghaziabad, where three minor sisters died by suicide following the restriction of mobile phone use, highlighted the extreme psychological dependency associated with digital consumption.
Social Media–Induced Harm
- Nature of the Conflict: The incident reflected severe screen addiction, amplified by immersive foreign entertainment content (South Korean K-dramas) accessed via social media, leading to domestic conflict.
- Public Outcry: This tragedy sparked a national debate, with many calling for a total ban on social media for minors to protect them from what is described as “digital poison”
Impact of Social Media on Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Psychological Distress: Empirical research links social media usage among adolescents to anxiety, depression, and self-harm tendencies.
- Body Image and Self-Worth: Platforms like Instagram foster an “inferiority complex,” particularly among girls, who compare themselves to “perfect” but often unrealistic images.
- Global Nature of the Crisis: The issue is transnational, with multiple governments exploring regulatory interventions, indicating a broader governance challenge rather than a local aberration.
International Responses and the Risk of “Moral Panic”
- Australia’s Ban: In 2024, Australia passed a law banning social media for those under 16, imposing fines of up to 50 million dollars on companies that fail to verify ages.
- Spain’s Stance: The Spanish Prime Minister has advocated for protecting children from the “digital wild west”.
- Moral Panic Argument: When societies fail to address complex systemic problems, they often single out a scapegoat, triggering moral panic and pushing policymakers toward oversimplified solutions.
Limitations of a Blanket Ban on Social Media for Minors
- Technological Circumvention: Tech-savvy minors can bypass national restrictions using VPNs, rendering territorial bans ineffective.
- Shift to Riskier Digital Spaces: Prohibition may push children towards unregulated online environments, increasing exposure to grooming, radicalisation, and abuse.
- Surveillance Concerns: Enforcing age restrictions through mandatory identity verification raises serious concerns regarding privacy, data misuse, and mass surveillance.
Gender and Democratic Implications of Restrictive Policies
- Digital Gender Divide: Existing disparities in internet access may be exacerbated, with restrictive norms disproportionately limiting girls’ digital autonomy.
- Impact on Marginalised Communities: Social media serves as a critical space for expression, support, and visibility for rural youth, sexual minorities, and socially isolated groups.
- Democratic Deficit in Policymaking: Excluding children and adolescents from policy design reflects a top-down governance approach that weakens legitimacy and effectiveness.
Proposed Solutions Beyond the Ban
- Leveraging the IT Act 2000: Instead of bans, the government should use existing laws to impose heavy fines on tech companies (such as YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram) that fail to ensure the safety of minors.
- Independent Regulator: An independent, expert regulator is preferable to ministry-led oversight, as it ensures speed, expertise, and accountability.
- Longitudinal Research: India needs to fund its own long-term research to understand how caste, class, and region shape the impact of social media, ensuring that policy is based on data rather than emotion.
The New Frontier- AI and Mental Health
- AI Chatbot Risks: Regulation must be consistent across both social media and AI chatbots.
- Children are increasingly seeking mental health advice from AI, which has been known to encourage self-harm or engage in sexualized conversations with minors.
- Cognitive Development Concerns: Excessive dependence on AI tools may weaken critical thinking, emotional resilience, and cognitive effort.
Conclusion
A blanket ban on social media for minors offers symbolic reassurance but ignores structural causes; an effective response requires regulation, digital education, platform accountability, child participation, and evidence-based governance, not technological prohibition.
9 Feb 2026
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