Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India is closely examining Australia’s landmark decision to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media, describing it as a growing concern worldwide.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a six-day, three-nation tour to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand to strengthen strategic partnerships and deepen engagement across the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking during a discussion on digital safety, Modi said the Indian government was learning from international experiences while exploring ways to safeguard children in the online space.

Referring to Australia’s move, the Prime Minister acknowledged the country’s efforts to address the impact of social media on young users and indicated that India was observing the policy carefully before considering its own approach. Australia became the first country to introduce legislation preventing children under 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms, with the law aimed at reducing risks such as cyberbullying, online addiction and exposure to harmful content.

“The way you are bringing changes in laws related to information technology and social media, and working to protect society, is highly inspiring for the world. We are learning a lot from your efforts and taking many lessons from them,” he said while addressing the leaders, including his counterpart Anthony Albanese.

Modi noted that rapid technological advances have created new opportunities while also exposing children and teenagers to significant online risks. He said governments must strike a balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring the safety and well-being of young users.

Australia’s legislation has drawn global attention, with several countries evaluating similar measures to regulate children’s access to social media platforms. The law places responsibility on technology companies to implement effective age-verification systems and prevent underage users from opening accounts, while imposing substantial penalties for non-compliance.

India has not announced any decision on introducing a comparable nationwide ban. However, Modi’s remarks indicate that the government is monitoring international policy developments and studying regulatory models adopted elsewhere before formulating its own framework for protecting children online.

Inputs from Hindustan Times

Also read: India’s first Ease of Operating Schools Index highlights regulatory gaps