<\/p>\n
NEW DELHI: The Economic Survey for fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) has called for age-based restrictions on social media access, citing rising concerns over \u201cdigital addiction\u201d among minors and aligning India with a broader global push to curb underage use of major platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, stopped short of recommending an outright ban but urged limits on underage access, alongside stricter age verification, curbs on auto-play features, and restrictions on targeted advertising for minors. \u201cYounger users are more vulnerable to compulsive use and harmful content,\u201d it said, citing links to lower student productivity and long-term earnings outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The recommendation comes as governments globally move to tighten controls on children\u2019s access to social platforms. Australia has passed what it calls world-first legislation that will prohibit social media use for those under 16, with fines of up to AUD 50 million for non-compliant companies. The law, due to take effect later this year, has been welcomed by child-safety advocates and criticized by free-speech groups and youth organizations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
On Wednesday, France\u2019s national assembly passed a bill to ban children under 15 from social media, which must still be approved by the senate. The UK, Denmark, and Greece are also examining similar measures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In India, stakes are large. The country has about 350 million social media users, including a sizeable underage population, with many spending six to seven hours a day on such platforms. The survey links excessive usage to a range of harms, including anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and cyber fraud, alongside losses in study time and productivity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The digital economy accounted for 11.74% of GDP in FY23 and is projected to have risen to 13.42% by FY25, underscoring the tension between rapid platform growth and emerging social costs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n