Karnataka to regulate mobile usage for children under 16

Karnataka minister Madhu Bangarappa on Monday said that a framework will be introduced to regulate mobile phone and social media usage by children under the age of 16, PTI reported.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, the primary and secondary education minister said that while restrictions already exist, the enforcement has been weak. He added that the Congress government in the state is working on stronger guidelines in consultation with stakeholders.

Bangarappa was replying to legislators’ questions in the Council, urging the government to take stringent measures against mobile addiction among children.

The minister noted that “for the first time in India, our government has proposed in the Budget that mobile use should be banned for children below 16 years”.

On March 6, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the state government will ban the use of social media for children under the age of 16. The decision had been taken “to protect children from the harmful effects of excessive mobile and social media use”, he had said while presenting the state Budget for the financial year 2026-’27.

Siddaramaiah did not mention when the ban would take effect.

Once implemented, Karnataka will become the first state to impose such a ban.

On Monday, Bangarappa said that although there are laws prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools,...

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