Canberra: Australia has taken a bold step by banning children under 16 from using social media platforms, including YouTube, to protect them from the negative impacts of the online world. In countries like India, where digital addiction is spreading rapidly, such a policy is increasingly necessary. It is time for India to enact clear laws safeguarding children’s digital rights, raise parental awareness, and help children strike a balance between screen time and healthy development.
The Digital Childhood Crisis
“Childhood is no longer shaped by books but by the glow of screens.” This observation is no longer literary symbolism—it has become a societal reality. With smartphones, tablets, and internet access so ubiquitous, even a four-year-old can watch cartoons on YouTube, while a ten-year-old knows how to create Instagram reels. In this context, Australia’s move is not only courageous but also a historic step toward securing the future of coming generations. Effective from December 10, 2025, the law imposes hefty fines on platforms that violate the age restriction, holding tech companies accountable for the safety of young users.
Earlier, Australia had already restricted Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X for children under 16. Now, YouTube joins this list. Violating platforms could face fines up to AUD 50 million—a stern attempt to ensure accountability. Australian authorities argue that exposure to online content negatively affects children’s mental health, social development, and behavior. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that parents have the right to know what their children are watching and who influences them.
Challenges of Digital Content
YouTube contends that it is merely a video-hosting platform and should not be classified as social media. The company highlights its educational, creative, and entertainment value, noting that three-quarters of Australian teens aged 13–15 use it. However, the core question remains: are YouTube and other platforms truly safe for children? Most tech companies prioritize views, clicks, and ad revenue over protecting children’s mental health.
India’s Digital Reality
In India, the problem is even more acute. Millions of internet users include teenagers and school-aged children. Reports suggest that children aged 13–17 spend an average of over three hours daily on social media. Instead of reading, playing, and socializing, many children remain glued to screens, adversely affecting their physical, emotional, and social development.
Teachers report that students are increasingly distracted, while parents struggle to balance screen access—denying it risks lagging behind socially, granting it risks addiction. Digital addiction now mirrors substance dependence, manifesting as irritability, sleep deprivation, reduced focus, and social withdrawal. Some children also face trolling and cyberbullying, harming their confidence and mental balance.
The Need for Policy and Awareness
Currently, India lacks comprehensive policy on this issue. While platforms set a 13+ age limit, enforcement is weak. Many children bypass the restriction by falsifying their age, while parental oversight is inconsistent. Schools often fail to teach digital ethics or safe online behavior.
This is not only a technological problem but also a social and familial one. Without joint action by parents, teachers, and policymakers, no technical solution will suffice. Digital discipline comes from guidance and understanding, not law alone.
Australia’s Example and India’s Opportunity
Australia’s decisive action demonstrates the importance of prioritizing children’s digital safety and holding tech companies accountable. India must act urgently by introducing clear regulations that restrict under-16s from accessing social media and entertainment platforms. Content filtering, screen time limits, and age verification should be mandatory.
Simultaneously, awareness campaigns must educate parents about the role of screens in children’s lives. Schools should incorporate digital citizenship into curricula, and media industries must produce positive, value-based content.
Childhood is the foundation of human life. If cracks caused by excessive screen exposure appear at this stage, the building of a healthy future may never be stable. Australia’s example sends a clear message: protecting children online is not only a family responsibility—it is a matter of national policy.
India must take this warning seriously to ensure that future generations grow up not only digitally savvy but also balanced, empathetic, and safe. It is time to give children space for books, play, and real-world interactions. Otherwise, the next generation may grow up not with us, but with screens.
“If childhood is lost to screens, society itself risks losing its future.”
