Centre plans 18+ rule for social media accounts

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Key points

• The Centre intends to amend the Information Technology Rules to restrict children under 18 from opening social media accounts.
• Centre backs Supreme Court, intends legal bar on social media accounts for under-18s.
• Justice Bagchi remarked social media platforms had adopted restrictions applicable in the US while operating in India's digital space.
• The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.
• The matter came up during a hearing on a plea by the NGO.

Nifty22, 780.25-360.25. Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth. The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Centre backs Supreme Court, intends legal bar on social media accounts for under-18s. ET OnlineLast Updated: Sep 29, 2026, 07: 21: 00 AM IST.

For context, the Centre intends to amend the Information Technology Rules to restrict children under 18 from opening social media accounts. During a Supreme Court hearing, authorities acknowledged the risks children face in the digital environment. The administration has agreed to produce it mandatory for intermediaries to prevent minors from registering on these platforms. Existing guidelines will be reinforced through new statutory measures.

Notably, the Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it would amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules to prevent children under 18 from opening accounts on social media platforms, Times of India noted. As well as counsel for petitioner NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, senior advocate H S Phoolka, that agreements entered into by minors with social media intermediaries were void contracts and should be prevented.: India to restrict Facebook, Instagram for under 16?, solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, agreed with the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. Debate over teen social media employ grows in key tech market.

"Membership of educational websites can be taken through consent of parents, " Mehta remarked, adding that the Centre would produce it a statutory obligation for intermediaries not to allow minors to open social media accounts. The matter came up during a hearing on a plea by the NGO. It has triggered concern over children's exposure to risks in the digital environment. Live Events.

Justice Bagchi remarked social media platforms had adopted restrictions applicable in the US while operating in India's digital space. "They have registered under the laws of US and imported into Indian digital space the restrictions which are applicable in US (on minors' opening accounts on social media platforms), which is impermissible under Indian law, " he remarked. When Mehta remarked, "we will have to control intermediaries", the bench asked the administration to consider directing platforms to ensure their technology and software complied with Indian law. "Our request to you – will Centre pass some directions under Intermediary Rules that they should fashion their software or platform in conformity with Indian laws?" the bench asked. Notably, the Solicitor General responded that platforms would have to comply with Indian law. "They will have to conform to Indian laws and there is no doubt regarding it. Something can be done, something should be done and something will be done, " Mehta remarked.: The killer is lurking inside your child's phone Justice Bagchi stated platforms should restrict registration of social media accounts to individuals above a minimum age of 18. "They must restrict, at least in registering membership, to a minimum threshold of 18 years, " he remarked. Mehta agreed that the restriction would have to be incorporated into law or rules to ensure that intermediaries complied with Indian requirements. Phoolka informed the court that the administration already had certain guidelines on the matter, but that these needed to be enforced. Mehta remarked the restriction should instead be enforced through a statute, prompting CJI Kant to ask the administration to consider putting the requirement on a statutory footing and return with a response. The NGO has argued that the absence of an effective and uniform mechanism to enforce such restrictions in the digital environment exposes children to foreseeable risks, including online grooming, sexual exploitation, trafficking, behavioural profiling, misuse of personal data, cyberbullying and exposure to age-inappropriate content. For context, the court's observations came as the Centre indicated that it was prepared to move towards a statutory framework requiring social media intermediaries to prevent minors from registering accounts on their platforms. (With inputs from Times of India) Add Now!

Social media accounts for minorsCentre Supreme Court social mediasocial media restrictions for under 18digital child safetychildren online safetyage restriction social mediaInformation Technology Rules amendmentonline exploitation risksdigital media ethics code.

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In short, centre plans 18+ rule for social media accounts is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.