Medianama to Host Roundtable on Child Social Media Use and Age Verification
Indian tech publication Medianama will host an invite-only roundtable discussion in New Delhi on July 31, 2026, focusing on age verification and restricting social media access for children.
Indian technology publication Medianama has announced an invite-only roundtable discussion set to take place in New Delhi on July 31, 2026. The event will address age verification mechanisms and the potential for restricting social media access for children.
The discussion will be held from 1 PM to 5 PM at Viceroy Hall, The Claridges. Attendance is strictly by invitation, and interested individuals must apply, with confirmation sent only to those who fit the curated audience mandate.
The event comes amid growing global and Indian concerns over children's online safety. While countries like Australia, the UK, and the UAE have recently implemented or are considering stricter age-based regulations for social media, India is also seeing state-level proposals for bans and a centrally planned tiered approach for different age groups.
Topics for the roundtable include examining the evidence behind proposed restrictions, understanding international regulatory approaches, and exploring the technical challenges of implementing effective age verification systems. Discussions will also cover the feasibility of such measures, data privacy considerations under India's DPDP Act, and potential workarounds like VPNs or shared credentials.
Furthermore, the event will delve into balancing protection with user agency, looking at alternatives to outright bans, the role of schools in digital literacy, and the complexities of enforcement and policy design across different jurisdictions. The aim is to foster a nuanced understanding of how to safeguard minors online while considering the practicalities of regulation.