New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on a petition seeking a comprehensive and enforceable regulatory framework to protect children from the potential harms of social media.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the concerned authorities, including the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Law and Justice. The Court tagged the petition with a pending matter and scheduled it for hearing on December 7.
The petition was filed by an Indore-based school and its director of academics, raising concerns over the growing exposure of children to social media platforms and the risks associated with unrestricted access. It highlights issues such as cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation, excessive screen time and platform features that may encourage compulsive use among young users.
The petition seeks mandatory age-verification mechanisms, verifiable parental consent and strict age-based restrictions on the creation of social media accounts. It argues that existing safeguards are insufficient to address the risks faced by children in the digital environment.
The petitioners have further submitted that parents and educational institutions cannot independently manage risks arising from the design and operation of social media platforms. They have therefore sought judicial directions requiring the Centre to establish a dedicated regulatory framework with enforceable safeguards.
The proposed framework would prohibit social media access for children below a prescribed age and regulate access for older minors through appropriate safeguards. The plea seeks a coordinated approach to child safety in the digital space, with clearly defined responsibilities for social media platforms and effective mechanisms to prevent online abuse.
The matter raises important questions concerning children’s online safety, digital rights, parental responsibility and the role of the government in regulating social media platforms. The Supreme Court’s consideration of the petition may have implications for the development of stronger safeguards governing children’s access to social media in India.
