Bengaluru, March 6 -- The Karnataka government has proposed a ban on social media use for children below 16 years, a move that, if implemented, would make it the first such restriction of its kind in India.
The proposal was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while presenting the 2026-27 state budget, which focused on balancing technology-driven growth with social responsibility.
The policy aims to address rising concerns over digital addiction, cyberbullying, and declining outdoor and academic engagement among school-age children.
The initiative is expected to have major implications in technology-heavy urban centres such as Bengaluru, where high internet and smartphone penetration among students has raised concerns among educators...