Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on 26 July urged the Union government to enact a nationwide law barring children below the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, citing mounting evidence of harm to their physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance. The demand comes as a growing number of countries move to legislate similar restrictions.

What Prompted the Call

Anbumani welcomed a recent decision by the French Parliament to prohibit children under 15 from creating social media accounts, a measure that takes effect from September, with existing underage accounts to be suspended from January when the law comes into full force. He described France as the first country in the European Union to introduce such a restriction.

He also pointed to Australia, which became the first country globally to enforce a comparable nationwide ban, which came into force in December 2025. Countries including Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have adopted similar measures, while more than 50 nations — among them the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Germany, and Denmark — are reportedly considering analogous legislation.

The Case for India

Citing the 2025–26 Economic Survey, Anbumani noted that prolonged social media exposure has been linked to anxiety, stress, declining self-esteem, and cyberbullying among young people. The survey specifically identified those aged between 16 and 24 as particularly vulnerable and recommended regulating children's online usage.

Educators and university administrators, he said, have flagged that social media addiction is eroding students' concentration, reading habits, and overall academic performance. He also highlighted research indicating that many young users lose interest in video content within eight seconds, pointing to a measurable decline in attention spans.

Beyond mental health, Anbumani raised concerns about the physical consequences of children replacing outdoor activities such as cricket and kabaddi with online gaming — a shift he said has contributed to rising obesity levels and vitamin D deficiency among children in India.

Why States Cannot Act Alone

While Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa have announced plans to regulate children's social media use, Anbumani argued that state governments may lack the constitutional authority to enforce such restrictions. He pointed out that communication falls under the Union List of the Constitution, meaning any state-level ban could face legal challenges.

This constitutional constraint, he said, makes a central law not just preferable but necessary.

PMK's Demand

Calling for decisive action, the PMK chief urged the Centre to follow the legislative examples of France and Australia and introduce a law banning social media access for all children below 16 across India. He framed the measure as essential for protecting the health, education, and long-term development of the country's younger generation.

With India's digital user base among the youngest in the world, the pressure on the Centre to respond is likely to intensify as the global regulatory momentum builds.