Stories
Supreme Court Urges Centre to Regulate Children's Social Media Use
N
News18•29-09-2026, 20:34
Supreme Court Urges Centre to Regulate Children's Social Media Use
- •The Supreme Court has pressed the Centre to establish rules governing children's access to social media platforms.
- •The Court warned it might issue direct orders to social media platforms if the government fails to address the issue.
- •Concerns were raised regarding minors' online safety during a hearing on a petition seeking safeguards.
- •The Centre indicated its readiness to take action, with discussions also covering parental consent and existing legal protections for minors.
- •The government's powers under the Information Technology Act were also examined during the hearing.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court urged the Centre to frame rules regulating children's access to social media, warning that it may issue directions to platforms if the government fails to address the issue.
The court examined whether social media platforms comply with Indian laws governing minors, highlighting that under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, children below 18 lack the legal capacity to enter into contracts.
The petition seeking safeguards for minors accessing social media was filed by an NGO named the Just Rights for Children Alliance.
