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Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh has directed officials to draft a comprehensive law to regulate social media access for children below 13, as the state steps up its focus on online safety and age-appropriate digital use.
The directive was issued during a Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting chaired by Lokesh, with senior officials and representatives from leading social media platforms.
Calling for a structured approach, Lokesh said a "graded, age-based framework" should be developed to shield children from harmful content while allowing safe participation in digital spaces.
He also emphasised the need for a regulatory system for users aged 13 to 16 years, aligned with global best practices to safeguard mental well-being.
Officials have been asked to study international models from countries such as Singapore, Australia, and Denmark to design a suitable regulatory and technological framework.
As part of enforcement, the state is exploring secure age-verification mechanisms, including "age tokens" linked to DigiLocker, aimed at authenticating users without compromising privacy.
Lokesh also warned of strict action against those posting abusive or hateful content online, particularly targeting women, under relevant provisions of IT laws. He further directed officials to appoint adjudicating authorities under Section 46 of the IT Act to strengthen enforcement.
The government is also planning awareness initiatives, including digital safety education in schools during 'No Bag Day' and sessions at large-scale parent-teacher meetings. Outreach programmes through self-help groups will aim to educate women on cyber risks and safe online practices.
Representatives from platforms such as Meta, Google, Snapchat, ShareChat, and Josh participated in the meeting, outlining existing safeguards and expressing willingness to collaborate with the state.
The Andhra Pradesh government will also seek public feedback and submit recommendations to the Centre on issues requiring national-level intervention.
The directive was issued during a Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting chaired by Lokesh, with senior officials and representatives from leading social media platforms.
Calling for a structured approach, Lokesh said a "graded, age-based framework" should be developed to shield children from harmful content while allowing safe participation in digital spaces.
He also emphasised the need for a regulatory system for users aged 13 to 16 years, aligned with global best practices to safeguard mental well-being.
Officials have been asked to study international models from countries such as Singapore, Australia, and Denmark to design a suitable regulatory and technological framework.
As part of enforcement, the state is exploring secure age-verification mechanisms, including "age tokens" linked to DigiLocker, aimed at authenticating users without compromising privacy.
Lokesh also warned of strict action against those posting abusive or hateful content online, particularly targeting women, under relevant provisions of IT laws. He further directed officials to appoint adjudicating authorities under Section 46 of the IT Act to strengthen enforcement.
The government is also planning awareness initiatives, including digital safety education in schools during 'No Bag Day' and sessions at large-scale parent-teacher meetings. Outreach programmes through self-help groups will aim to educate women on cyber risks and safe online practices.
Representatives from platforms such as Meta, Google, Snapchat, ShareChat, and Josh participated in the meeting, outlining existing safeguards and expressing willingness to collaborate with the state.
The Andhra Pradesh government will also seek public feedback and submit recommendations to the Centre on issues requiring national-level intervention.
