Mobile phones and the internet have accelerated the pace of the world, yet this very technology is now emerging as a major challenge for children. At an age when children should be engaged with books, sports, and the inculcation of values, smartphones and social media have found their way into their hands. The consequences are manifesting in various forms, ranging from a decline in academic performance to depression, suicide, cyberbullying, violent behaviour, family stress and mental health issues. It is for this reason that France has decided to ban social media accounts for children under the age of 15.
In a sense, this move by France sends a message to the global community that protecting childhood takes precedence over technology. In India, where the population of children and adolescents under the age of 18 is projected to exceed 400 million by 2026, there is a similar debate regarding the extent of freedom children should have on social media. With this decision, France has become the first country in the European Union to enact strict legislation regarding social media usage by children under 15.
Under this law, passed by both houses of parliament, children under the age of 15 will be unable to create new social media accounts. Social media companies will be required to verify the age of every user, and existing accounts belonging to this age group will be shut down starting in January 2027. Services related to education, scientific research and online encyclopedias have been exempted from this ban. The French government argues that this measure is not intended to curtail freedom of expression but is instead aimed at safeguarding children’s mental health and ensuring a safe digital environment. Highlighting this as a key social initiative of his tenure, the President stated, “Protecting our children is the government’s primary responsibility.” In this context, it is also worth considering the facts regarding France’s approach.
58 per cent of adolescents are regular users of social media platforms
A report by the national health regulatory body indicates that one in every two adolescents in the country spends between two and five hours daily on smartphones. Approximately 90 per cent of children in the 12–17 age group use smartphones to access the internet every day; among them, 58 per cent are regular users of social media platforms. The report identifies serious risks associated with social media, including low self-esteem, depression, self-harm and easy access to content related to substance abuse and suicide. Following this study, the French government concluded that without timely intervention, the next generation would face a mental health crisis.
Prior to this, Australia became the first country to move towards banning social media for children under the age of 16. There, social media companies failing to prevent children from holding accounts could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars. Spain has proposed limiting social media access for children under 16, while Denmark and Greece are also in the process of enacting similar legislation. The UK has publicly acknowledged that it is considering new restrictions on social media usage by adolescents.
Children under three years of age should be kept completely away from screens
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a clear statement on this matter, asserting that children under the age of three should be kept entirely away from screens, while strict controls on social media platforms are essential for younger children. An expert committee of the European Union has also recommended that children under 13 be granted access to social media only if companies can prove their platforms are completely safe.
Now, turning to India: the situation facing the country is, in fact, far more complex than that of France. According to United Nations population estimates, India has a population of approximately 400 million people under the age of 18, arguably the largest child and adolescent population in the world. Today, affordable smartphones are commonly seen in the hands of these children; this is largely because India offers some of the lowest data rates globally, enabling internet access to reach almost every household.
Over 950 million internet users in India
According to TRAI and various digital industry reports, the number of internet users in India has surpassed 950 million, with smartphone usage rising rapidly in rural areas as well. Reports from the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) also indicate a steady increase in the share of adolescents and youth among internet users. Today, a large number of children are entering the world of social media and online gaming before the age of 10–12, a trend that is already leading to adverse consequences.
Experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) have repeatedly warned that excessive screen time can exacerbate issues such as attention deficits, sleep disorders, social isolation, irritability and depression. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises balanced digital usage, while the Indian Academy of Pediatrics consistently recommends limiting screen time for young children. Despite this, mobile phones have become a primary source of entertainment in most families and an integral part of daily life for many children.
Recent events in India signal that it is time to wake up to the issue
Earlier this year, the suicide of a 14-year-old boy in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, became a subject of national discussion. Preliminary investigations revealed that the teenager was severely addicted to an online mobile game; he took the drastic step of ending his life after his family restricted his mobile usage. Similar incidents have frequently emerged from various states across the country, where children have committed suicide, run away from home or exhibited violent behaviour toward their families due to factors such as financial losses in online gaming, blackmail on social media, cyberbullying, exposure to obscene content and mobile addiction.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also indicates a steady rise in cases of cybercrimes and online harassment against children; consequently, the unregulated use of mobile phones and social media has now become a public health concern. France’s new law is also grounded in this very perspective.
Warning from AIIMS and Indian experts: Digital addiction is affecting brain development
Medical experts in India have also been consistently warning that digital addiction among children is rising rapidly. This year, experts from AIIMS, New Delhi, highlighted the case of a 12-year-old child who had begun spending 10 to 12 hours daily on social media and online platforms. Experts noted that excessive digital dependency is often linked to loneliness, emotional insecurity and social isolation, and that treatment is possible through the concerted efforts of families, schools and specialists.
Similarly, a meta-analysis published by researchers at AIIMS Raipur examined data concerning 2,857 Indian children. The study found that children under the age of five spend an average of 2.22 hours daily in front of a screen, while children under two years of age spend an average of 1.23 hours doing so, figures that stand in contrast to the recommendations of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which advise either zero or extremely limited screen time for this age group.
Conflict is rising in households: mobile phones are becoming a barrier between family members
A new problem is emerging in India’s major metropolitan areas and rapidly evolving urban society. Parents often give mobile phones to their children at a young age to keep them occupied, but within a few years, the very same device becomes a major challenge for the family. Screens have taken the place of mealtimes, family conversations, outdoor play and social interaction.
Experts at AIIMS state that children addicted to screens are increasingly suffering from issues such as irritability, sleep deprivation, lack of focus, declining academic performance, social isolation and emotional instability. Mental health experts across the country have also expressed concern regarding screen addiction, cyberbullying and rising stress levels among children.
It is not just the children: the entire family is paying the price
The most significant adverse effect of digital addiction is that its impact is not limited to children alone. In many families, children react violently, run away from home, or attempt self-harm when their mobile phones are taken away. There have also been instances where children withdrew lakhs of rupees from their parents’ bank accounts for online gaming. Cybercrime units are consistently receiving complaints regarding such cases.
India needs awareness and robust laws
While India has the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and provisions under Information Technology laws, an effective age-verification system for children’s social media usage has yet to be robustly implemented. Consequently, many experts, educationists, and child rights organisations are calling for the enactment of age-based digital safety laws in India, similar to those in France and Australia.
There is an urgent need to take the following steps in this regard:
• Mandatory age verification before opening social media accounts for children under the age of 16.
• Default parental controls and privacy protections for children’s accounts.
• Regulatory oversight on algorithm-driven harmful content and “infinite scrolling” features.
• Making digital discipline, alongside digital literacy, a mandatory subject in schools.
• Digital addiction counselling centres for children should be established in every district.
• Heavy financial penalties should be imposed on social media companies for violating child safety standards.
• A “Safe Digital Childhood Mission” should be launched at the national level, involving the collaborative efforts of the Ministries of Education, Health, Women-Child Development, and Information Technology, along with state-level departments.
Safeguarding childhood will serve as the greatest foundation for a developed India
France has already taken the first bold step in this direction. The choice before India is now clear: either wait for the problem to escalate further or take decisive, visionary action in time to protect the future of its millions of children. This decision will shape the future of generations to come; currently, millions of hours are being squandered by 400 million children, time that should be dedicated to learning and innovation is instead being spent merely staring at screens.
