Will social media be banned for children below 16 years of age in India? People came out in strong support

Will the use of social media for children below 16 years of age become a thing of the past in India? Looking at the recent figures, it seems something similar is happening. According to a new global research, parents and youth themselves in India seem to be standing strongly in favor of banning social media for children. This report released by Britain’s famous education organization ‘Varkey Foundation’ has created a stir in the digital world.

India ranks second in the world in support of the ban Varkey Foundation’s ‘Family First’ analysis has revealed that about 75 percent people in India are supporting social media ban for children below 16 years of age. In this list, Malaysia is at first place with 77 percent, while India is at second place. This research has come at a time when Australia has recently legally banned social media for children under 16 years of age in its country.

Gen Z also surprised: support against their own generation The most surprising thing about this survey is that India’s ‘Gen Z’ generation, who have themselves grown up with social media, are at the forefront in favor of this ban. 73 percent of Gen Z respondents in India believed that social media should be banned for children. Sunny Varkey, founder of Family First and Varkey Foundation, said that this research clearly highlights the increasing stress within families and concerns of parents in the digital age.

What do the survey data say and which countries were included? To conduct this study, the ‘We Are Family’ agency talked to about 6,000 parents and their children as well as grandparents and youth in January and February 2026. Apart from India, 15 major countries like America, China, France, Japan, Brazil and Canada were included in this research. According to the data, while India and Malaysia are staunch supporters of this ban, only 38 percent people in Japan and 39 percent people in Nigeria were in favor of it. Even in America this support was only 51 percent.

Indians’ perspective is completely different from the world It is often seen all over the world that parents and children have different opinions regarding social media, but India seems to be different here too. Globally, only 37 percent children consider this ban justified, whereas in India and Malaysia, 62 percent youth have openly supported this ban. In countries like Australia and Sweden, where the generation gap is wide, in India both the young and the old seem to be equally concerned about the safety of children.

Experts believe that this is not just a ban debate, but the beginning of a broader discussion on how technology is affecting our family values ​​and the mental state of the youth. This huge support in India may point towards stricter laws in the future.