Full Breakdown
India Moves to Ban Social-Media Accounts for Users Under 18
By Drooid · · How we work
Proposed Restrictions and Legal Trigger
The Union government is preparing to amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to prohibit social-media platforms from allowing anyone younger than 18 to open an account. The change follows a petition, Just Rights for Children Alliance v Union of India, which seeks statutory safeguards for minors. The Supreme Court, in a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, asked the Centre to consider directions under the intermediary rules to ensure compliance with Indian law. On September 10, the Court first sought the Centre’s response to the issue.
Government and Judicial Positions
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the government is ready to act if existing law is insufficient, and affirmed that “void contracts” between intermediaries and minors must be prevented. The Court indicated that a statutory mechanism is required, urging the Centre to draft rules that would make platforms conform to Indian legislation. Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that a minimum age threshold of 18 should be enforced at the point of registration.
Opposition and Criticism
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, questioned the motive behind the curbs, suggesting they could silence a generation that uses Instagram to challenge political narratives. Dipke urged the government to focus on targeting accounts that harass or abuse girls instead of a blanket ban.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All these years the BJP controlled the narrative through mainstream media and WhatsApp. But Instagram is a different battlefield,” — Abhijeet Dipke, says CJP founder
- “Restrictions on minors may sound reasonable on paper in the name of online safety. But it is fair to ask whether there is another motive too: stopping Gen Alpha from doing what Gen Z did,” — Abhijeet Dipke, says CJP founder
- “ Justice Bagchi said, "They must restrict, at least in registering membership, to a minimum threshold of 18 years.” — Justices Joymalya Bagchi
These statements capture the key perspectives of the political critic, the Solicitor General, and the judiciary regarding the proposed age-based restriction.