Why in news?

India is relying on a patchwork of laws and platform-led measures to protect children on social media. Risks include exposure to harmful content, online grooming, and cybercrime.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 mandates parental consent before platforms can process children's data. The IT Act and POCSO Act provide additional criminal provisions.

Platforms are also using age-gating, parental controls, and child-focused content ecosystems. The government is considering a graded approach to regulate children's access to social media.

However, experts warn that enforcement gaps, technological loopholes, and easy age misrepresentation continue to undermine these safeguards.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Risks for Children in the Online Space
• India's Regulatory Framework for Children on the Internet
• Age-Gating Measures by Social Media Platforms

Risks for Children in the Online Space

• Exposure to Harmful Content - Increased screen time exposes children to inappropriate and harmful content. This can negatively impact mental health, leading to anxiety, stress, and social isolation.
• Threat of Online Grooming - Children are vulnerable to online grooming, where predators exploit them through digital platforms. This poses serious risks to their safety and well-being.
• Rising Cybercrime Against Children - NCRB data shows a 32% increase in cybercrimes against children (2021–2022). Indicates growing threats as more children engage online.
• Increasing Internet Usage Among Children
  • A NITI Aayog report reveals the following average daily online usage among Indian children in 2023:
    • Up to 5 years: ~1.5 hours daily (educational content, games)
    • 6–10 years: ~2.5 hours (social media, gaming, videos)
    • 11–15 years: ~4 hours daily
    • 16–18 years: ~6 hours daily
  • As screen time rises sharply with age, so does exposure to unregulated content and online risks.
  • The data underscores the urgency of stronger child safety frameworks in India's digital space.

India's Regulatory Framework for Children on the Internet

• India has developed a multi-layered framework combining legislation, platform regulations, and educational initiatives to protect children online.
• However, critics note that enforcement remains inconsistent.
• Data Protection
  • Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, companies collecting data of users under 18 must obtain parental or guardian consent.
  • Platforms are also prohibited from tracking or monitoring children's behaviour and serving them targeted advertisements.
  • A key concern, however, is that children can easily bypass these protections by misrepresenting their age.
• Laws Against Online Exploitation
  • Key laws addressing child safety online include:
    • Information Technology Act, 2000 - Criminalises the creation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
    • POCSO Act, 2012 — Defines and penalises online sexual exploitation and grooming.
    • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — Extends liability to digital offences including trafficking and harassment of children.
    • Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 — Addresses online facilitation of child exploitation.
  • However, there are persistent weaknesses in digital forensic capacity, law-enforcement training, and the uneven functioning of Special POCSO Courts, all of which limit the effective investigation and prosecution of offences.
• Content Classification and Parental Controls
  • Under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, OTT platforms must classify their content into five age-based categories:
    • U, U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, A
  • Mandatory measures include:
    • Parental locks (U/A 13+ and above)
    • Age verification (Adult content)
• Screen Time and Digital Wellness in Education
  • The Ministry of Education introduced the PRAGYATA Guidelines in July 2020, recommending age-appropriate screen time limits for students.
  • The guidelines aim to safeguard both the safety and academic welfare of children in a digital learning environment.

Age-Gating Measures by Social Media Platforms

• Several major social media and tech platforms have introduced age-gating measures and child-safety tools, though their effectiveness remains a subject of debate.
• Google’s Parental Control System
  • Minimum age to create a Google account in India is 13 years.
  • For children below 13, parents can use Family Link to:
    • Monitor activity
    • Block inappropriate content
    • Approve app downloads and manage permissions
  • At 13, children can manage their accounts independently, though parents are notified if supervision ends.
• Instagram’s Teen Safety Features
  • Instagram offers ‘Teen Accounts’ with built-in protections.
  • Users under 16 require parental approval to relax safety settings.
  • Aims to provide a safer default environment for young users.
• Child-Focused Platforms
  • Platforms like YouTube Kids provide a controlled content environment.
  • Parents can customise content based on the child’s age.
  • Instagram had planned a kids-only app, but development was paused in 2021.
• Limitations and Criticism
  • These measures are not fully effective.
  • Studies suggest many safety tools can be easily bypassed or ineffective.
  • Platforms dispute such findings but concerns about real-world effectiveness remain.