Amaravati, April 9 (NationPress) The government of Andhra Pradesh is set to establish a detailed regulatory framework aimed at limiting social media access for individuals under the age of 13, while also creating a digital environment that is appropriate for teenagers.

On Thursday, State Minister for Education, IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, advocated for the development of legislation that strikes a balance between digital accessibility and ensuring the safety, creativity, and mental health of children.

During a high-level meeting with senior officials and representatives from major social media platforms, Minister Lokesh stressed the importance of implementing a tiered, age-specific content access system, particularly for users aged 13 to 16 years, to shield children from harmful or unsuitable material.

The anticipated framework intends to position Andhra Pradesh in line with evolving global standards regarding digital child safety, according to an official announcement.

Officials have been directed to examine successful practices from nations like Singapore, Australia, and Denmark in order to create a solid legal and technological framework that meets India's requirements.

As part of its enforcement strategy, the state government is considering the introduction of secure age-verification methods, such as "age tokens" that are integrated with DigiLocker.

This approach would allow social media platforms to verify user age while maintaining privacy, a crucial step in effectively enforcing age restrictions on a large scale.

Representatives from prominent social media companies, including Meta, YouTube, X, ShareChat, and Josh, provided insights to the Group of Ministers on current measures for limiting access to sensitive content and addressing user complaints. They expressed their readiness to work closely with the Andhra Pradesh government to implement these initiatives.

The state government will also gather public input and present recommendations to the Union government on issues that fall under central legislative jurisdiction, suggesting a potential route for evolving national policy.

Minister Lokesh highlighted that strict actions will be taken against those disseminating abusive or hateful content, especially targeting women.

There was a focus on enhancing enforcement measures under existing IT laws, including Section 46 of the IT Act, with instructions to appoint adjudicating bodies as soon as possible.

Recognizing that regulation alone is not enough, the state government will launch extensive awareness campaigns throughout the state.

These initiatives will feature digital safety education during "No Bag Day" in schools, informative sessions for parents and students during Mega PTMs (conducted twice a year), and outreach programs to women via Self-Help Groups (SHGs) focusing on online safety and cyber threats.

The overall goal is to cultivate digital literacy alongside regulatory protections, ensuring a comprehensive approach to child safety.

The meeting included attendees such as Ministers Vangalapudi Anitha, Nadendla Manohar, and Satyakumar Yadav, along with senior officials from departments including General Administration, Information and Public Relations, Cyber Crime, and Digital Corporation.