India's Supreme Court Asks Centre to Consider Social Media Rules for Minors

India's Supreme Court has asked the central government to consider enacting statutory rules governing the use of social media by minors. The court stated on September 28 that existing guidelines are insufficient and proposed that platforms should be required to comply with Indian law, including a minimum age of 18 for independently opening an account.

The directive was made during a hearing concerning a petition filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA), a non-governmental organization. The petition seeks age verification, parental consent, and other safeguards for children on digital platforms, without advocating for an internet ban.

The government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, responded affirmatively, stating that "something can be done, something should be done and something will be done." This commitment follows prolonged discussions at various levels of government and judiciary regarding the risks social media poses to minors.

MediaNama, a publication focusing on technology and policy, has analyzed potential regulatory measures. These include requiring platforms to verify a user's age without collecting extensive personal identification documents, possibly through technologies like "zero-knowledge proofs." The proposed rules also suggest mandating parental consent for account creation and providing parents with channels to manage their children's access.