The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central Government on a petition related to the safety of children under 18 years of age on social media and other digital platforms.
Social Media Age Limit: A petition filed in the Supreme Court regarding children's social media use and online safety in India has given rise to significant debate. The petition demands strengthening of security measures for children under 18 years of age on social media and other digital platforms. This also includes the demand for implementing mechanisms such as mandatory participation of parents or legal guardians and verification of their identity.
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central Government in this matter. However, issuing a court notice does not amount to approval of a proposed arrangement. At present, a reply has been sought from the Central Government on the issues raised in the petition.
Who filed the petition?
This petition has been filed by a non-governmental organization named Just Rights for Children Alliance. The petitioner has expressed concern about the safety of children amid their increasing access to the digital world. In the petition, questions have been raised on the current system of minors creating accounts and using services on social media platforms and other digital services.
It said that some major social media platforms allow users from the age of 13 to create accounts, while in Indian law, a person below 18 years of age is considered a minor. The main thrust of the petition is that considering the risks associated with children's online activities, there should be more clear and effective rules to protect them.
What are the requirements for children under 18 years of age?
The petition demands making necessary changes in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 or issuing special guidelines on this subject. The petitioner wants that no digital platform should enter into any contract or service related arrangement with a child under the age of 18 years without the consent of the parent or legal guardian. For this, a system to verify the identity of the guardian has also been suggested.
It has been said to include processes like verification or e-KYC. However, how such a system will be implemented and how the privacy of children and parents will be ensured may be a subject for further legal and policy discussion.
What dangers do children face on social media?
The petition links children's unsupervised access to social media to a variety of online risks. These include concerns such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, cyber-bullying and access to age-inappropriate content. Furthermore, users' online activities on digital platforms generate large amounts of data. The petition also raises concerns about the possible misuse of children's data and profiling of their activities.
Considering the age and mental development of children, the impact of inappropriate content is also an important issue. The petitioner argues that granting access to the platform merely on the basis of age cannot be considered an adequate security measure.
Emphasis on parental control and digital security
The petition demands a process that ensures involvement of parents or legal guardians before a minor starts using any digital platform. The proposed system calls for setting different requirements for guardian verification depending on the nature of the service and the risks associated with it.
This also poses the challenge of striking a balance between children's digital rights and their safety. On one hand, Internet has become an important medium of education, entertainment and communication for children, while on the other hand, the need for effective security system to protect against online risks is also increasing.