The Supreme Court on Friday opted not to proceed with a plea that sought to restrict children under the age of 13 from using social media platforms. The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, labeled the issue as a policy matter, suggesting that such regulations should be addressed by Parliament rather than the judiciary.
The plea, presented by the Zep Foundation through advocate Mohini Priya, highlighted the profound impacts of social media on the physical, mental, and psychological well-being of young children. It proposed the implementation of stringent age verification mechanisms, such as biometric authentication, to control the access of children to these platforms.
While dismissing the plea, the court granted the petitioner the freedom to approach the relevant authorities with their concerns. “It is a policy matter. You ask Parliament to enact the law,” the bench stated during the proceedings. They further noted that should the petitioner make a representation to the authority concerned, it should be addressed within eight weeks.
The Zep Foundation’s petition called for significant amendments in the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, including mandatory parental controls for users between 13 and 18 years old. This would encompass real-time monitoring tools, strict age verification processes, and content restrictions.
Moreover, the plea demanded the imposition of harsh penalties on social media platforms that fail to adhere to child protection regulations. It stressed the urgent need for a robust age verification system that transcends parental supervision due to the severe and widespread mental health crises among children linked to excessive social media use.
Supporting its claims with extensive research, the petition pointed out the detrimental effects of social media, including psychological distress, social isolation, addiction-like dependency, and cognitive impairments among minors. It described unchecked digital engagement by minors as akin to a public health emergency.
According to the petition, India, with over 462 million active social media users and mobile connectivity at 78%, faces a dire situation, especially since approximately 30% of its population comprises children aged four to 18. The document cited reports from Maharashtra indicating that 17% of children aged 9-17 spend more than six hours daily on social media or gaming platforms.
