Do you agree with such a drastic measure or do you feel parental consent should be mandatory till the age of 18. Which of these two regulations can be more effective in India and why?
The Australian government has imposed a ban on social media access for individuals under the age of 16 years. The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025.
Now, let’s analyse why has Australia taken this drastic measure. Australia has done this due to mental health concerns, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and developmental impact. We cannot ignore the fact that social media has adverse effects on children such as mental health impact, addiction or substance abuse, and poor time management. Other effects such as unrealistic body image perceptions, peer pressure, social skills decline, and worsening academic performance caused due shortened attention span. These conditions not only affect adults, but they have a greater impact on teenagers or younger children. We can agree that everyone is not the same, and some children are affected less than others based on factors such as coping mechanisms or family dynamics.
Though on a personal level, I am not completely in favour of such a drastic step, and I believe that parental consent should be mandatory till the age of 18. A 2021 study from the Journal of Family Psychology found parents are generally accurate in assessing their child’s emotional and social maturity. This means that a parent would have a good idea if the child were ready to be on social media or not. Social media could have some benefits too, if used properly. Like building connections – 80% of teens say platforms like Instagram or X make them feel more connected to friends, fostering a sense of belonging. Identity Exploration – 65% of teens feel social media helps them define their identity and build confidence. Access to information – some social media platforms can provide real-time insights into news, trends, or topics teens care about, like mental health or activism. Creative Outlets – 59% of teen creators use social media to share their work, boosting creativity and motivation.
I think that in India parental consent must be made compulsory for all children under 18 years of age. I think this would be an appropriate step which should be taken by our government to prevent the adverse effects of social media on young children. A ban on social media access for children under 12 years of age would, in my opinion, be appropriate. This is because children want to feel connected with their friends and may feel alone or depressed if not in contact with peers. However, parents must step up to take responsibility to keep check on screen times of their children. Making parental control compulsory would make parents more dominating and this may affect the parent-child relationship.
By Abhinav Boken
Class 11th
The Shiv Nadar School, Gurugram
