Karnataka Bans Social Media for Under 16s: First State in India to Act

• Karnataka becomes the first Indian state to ban social media for children under 16, announced by CM Siddaramaiah during his budget speech.
• The ban aims to curb the adverse effects of excessive mobile usage on children's academic performance, mental health, and behavior.
• The move reflects a global trend towards stricter age-based controls, with countries like Australia already implementing similar restrictions.
• Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw supports age-based regulation and discusses deepfakes, highlighting a broader national push for digital safeguards.
• The decision follows concerns about harmful content exposure and the need to protect young users online.