India’s Economic Survey 2025-26 calls for age-based limits on social media access

DELHI: India is contemplating age-based restrictions on social media as the government confronts a new challenge: digital addiction among children and adolescents. In its annual Economic Survey, chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran warned that the country’s rapid internet penetration, nearly one billion users, supported by around 750 million smartphones, is exposing younger users to compulsive behaviour, harmful content, and excessive screen time, which could have long-term consequences for learning, mental health, and productivity.

“Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable,” Nageswaran said. “Unchecked access to digital platforms can impair attention spans, disrupt sleep, and affect academic performance. Policy intervention, coupled with parental oversight, is essential.”

The survey recommends considering a minimum age for social media access, while also making platforms more accountable. This could involve mandatory age verification, default settings tailored to minors, and tools that nudge healthy digital habits. At the family level, Nageswaran urged device-free hours, offline interactions, and limits on recreational screen use as part of a broader strategy to protect children’s cognitive and emotional development.

Globally, governments are moving in a similar direction. Australia recently became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, while France’s National Assembly has backed legislation restricting access for those under 15. Countries including Britain, Denmark and Greece are actively examining comparable policies. India’s Economic Survey draws on these international precedents, suggesting that similar interventions may be needed in the world’s fastest-growing internet market.

At the state level, momentum is building. Goa and Andhra Pradesh have announced panels to study Australia’s regulatory framework and explore potential restrictions for children below 16. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that unregulated social media usage among youth is not merely a personal or parental concern, but a societal one with long-term economic and cultural implications.

Social media companies have so far responded cautiously to calls for regulation. Meta has expressed support for laws that strengthen parental oversight, yet warned that outright bans could push teenagers toward unregulated and less safe online spaces. YouTube and other platforms have also introduced content filters, screen-time reminders, and family-friendly defaults, but critics argue these measures are piecemeal and insufficient in a market of India’s scale.

Analysts note that the stakes are high. India is now one of the most important growth markets for global tech giants. Advertising and user engagement metrics are booming, fueled by low-cost data plans and widespread smartphone adoption. Yet the very factors driving growth are also contributing to what experts are calling a “digital health crisis” among the country’s youth.

The survey highlights a spectrum of risks: declining academic performance, increased workplace distraction, sleep deprivation, and reduced attention spans. It also flags psychological and behavioural risks, including compulsive use, social comparison, and exposure to harmful content. The chief economic adviser emphasised that these are not abstract concerns: they have tangible impacts on human capital and the economy’s future productivity.

While the Economic Survey’s recommendations are not legally binding, they carry weight and often shape policy discussions at the central and state levels. Lawmakers and regulators are expected to consider the implications seriously, particularly as states like Goa and Andhra Pradesh pilot frameworks to curb minors’ access to social media.

Experts argue that regulation must strike a delicate balance between protecting children and preserving access to information, creativity, and connection. Excessive restrictions risk alienating youth or driving them to alternative, less secure platforms, while too little oversight can entrench harmful digital habits. Nageswaran’s call for age-based rules alongside platform accountability represents an attempt to navigate this tension.

The debate over digital addiction comes at a critical moment. India has leapfrogged into the world’s largest online market, yet it does not have a uniform minimum age for social media access. Families, educators, and policymakers are grappling with questions that extend beyond individual behaviour to the country’s broader social and economic health.

As platforms continue to innovate and expand, introducing AI-driven recommendations, short-form video and gamified engagement, the need for thoughtful regulation and responsible use has never been greater. The Economic Survey’s recommendations signal that the government is preparing to take a more active role, nudging families, platforms and regulators toward shared responsibility.

With children’s mental health, educational outcomes and productivity at stake, India’s experiment with age limits, platform accountability and parental guidance could set a precedent for the rest of the world. The debate is only just beginning, but one thing is clear: the screen is no longer just a device; it is a battleground for the country’s future.