Bengaluru, March 7 -- Debate is intensifying over the Karnataka government's proposal to regulate social media use among children below 16 years, with ministers acknowledging both the risks of online platforms and their growing role in education.
Industries and senior ministers have offered mixed perspectives, stressing the need for safeguards for minors while cautioning against abrupt restrictions that could push teenagers to unregulated digital spaces.
Speaking in Bengaluru, Minister MB Patil said social media could be harmful for children if left unchecked, but noted that it had also become an important tool for learning and academic engagement.
"Social media can be harmful for children and should be regulated or banned accordingly. A...