A BJP member of parliament, Baijayant Panda, has proposed a private bill that would require parental consent for children under the age of 13 to access social media platforms, according to a report from thehindu.com. The bill aims to introduce an annual child safety and risk assessment process to identify exposure risks related to content algorithms and user interactions on digital services.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young users, including exposure to inappropriate content and potential mental health issues. Panda’s bill would mandate that platforms implement safeguards to protect minors, ensuring that their online activities are monitored and controlled by parents.
The measure is part of a broader push by the BJP to regulate digital spaces for children, reflecting increasing public and political pressure to address online safety. While the bill is still in the proposal stage, it has sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and child protection in the digital age. (thehindu.com)
