India May Ban Social Media For Under-18s: Key Lessons From Countries Already Trying

India may soon move to restrict social media access for users below 18, with the Centre telling the Supreme Court that it plans to amend IT intermediary rules. The move comes amid growing concerns worldwide over teenagers’ exposure to social media, including mental health, online safety and harmful content. Countries including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Gabon have introduced or announced age-based restrictions, while Brazil has opted for parental controls. But enforcing such bans remains a challenge, with questions over age verification, privacy and false identities. India has not yet announced how it would verify users’ ages if the proposed restrictions are implemented.