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The court made the observations while hearing a PIL that seeks directions to internet service providers to offer parental control services
News18
As debate grows in India over children’s exposure to harmful online content, the Madras High Court has suggested that the Centre consider bringing in a law to restrict social media use for children under 16, similar to Australia’s recent move to ban minors from accessing social media platforms.
The observation was made by Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan while hearing a PIL seeking directions to internet service providers (ISPs) to offer parental control or “parental window” services, citing the easy availability of pornographic content to young children.
The court observed that the Union government could explore the possibility of enacting legislation similar to Australia’s, which restricts social media access for children below 16. The observation was made by Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan while hearing a PIL.
The plea sought directions to internet service providers (ISPs) to offer parental control or ‘parental window’ services, citing the easy availability of pornographic content to young children. The court agreed that children face serious risks while using the internet and stressed that parents also have a greater responsibility in ensuring online safety.
“The central government can consider enacting a law similar to Australia’s social media ban. Until such a law is passed, authorities must strengthen awareness campaigns and ensure they reach vulnerable groups through all available media,” the bench said.
The petition was filed by S Vijayakumar from Madurai district in 2018, raising concerns about the easy access to pornographic content and urged the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights to exercise their powers to direct ISPs to provide parental control systems and conduct awareness programmes.
During the hearing, the senior counsel representing the petitioner referred to Australia’s recent decision to ban social media use for children under 16 and suggested that India consider a similar approach. The judges noted that the counter-affidavit filed by the authorities failed to convince the court that they were effectively fulfilling their responsibilities under the law.
“It is the statutory duty of the commission to create awareness about children’s rights across all sections of society and to inform them about safety mechanisms available for protecting these rights. While some awareness programmes are conducted in schools, they are insufficient,” the court observed.
Recently, Australia passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media platforms. Under the law, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch, and others are required to remove accounts belonging to minors. The law, however, has sparked debate, with critics raising concerns over freedom of expression and digital rights.
December 26, 2025, 10:00 IST
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