Punjab minister Aman Arora informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the state government will discuss framing rules for social media use by minors with the Union government. He added that the state will also study global best practices to protect children’s interests.
Arora, who handles good governance and information technology, was responding to a call attention motion by Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh during the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday. He added that legal restrictions on social media for minors could be introduced through rules framed by the Government of India under the IT Act, 2000. This may include age verification requirements for social media platforms. He added, “Rules must be age-specific. Content suitable for children aged 8 to 12 differs from that for 13 to 16, and from those above 18.”
Arora cautioned that a blanket ban can backfire. “It often increases children’s curiosity about prohibited content and pushes them toward unregulated corners of the internet,” he said. He added that the state government is committed to protecting children and ensuring the digital age becomes one of opportunity, not addiction.
Explaining the AAP government’s ‘Digital Safety Net’ strategy, Arora said addressing mobile phone addiction and exposure to harmful content requires the joint effort of the government, schools, and parents.
“This concern is not limited to Punjab or even India. It is a pressing global policy issue today. Australia recently enacted a law restricting social media accounts for children below 16, while Karnataka has proposed a similar ban. Andhra Pradesh is considering restricting access for those below 13,” Arora said.
The minister said Punjab has already launched several initiatives to address this challenge. The 'Cyber Jaago' program, run with the cybercrime division of Punjab Police and the IT department, is shifting from reactive policing to preventive education.
Under this program, teachers in 3,968 government high schools are being trained as 'Digital Mentors' to educate students on spotting online threats and managing screen time, Arora said.
To ensure faster response to cyber complaints, Punjab Police has linked the national cybercrime helpline (1930) with the state’s Dial-112 emergency system. “Citizens can now report online fraud, cyberbullying, or cybercrime through a single number,” he added. He also mentioned the launch of ‘Jeevan Jyot 2.0’, which sets up district-level task forces to tackle online abuse and exploitation of children.
Referring to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Arora said the state is working with the Centre to implement the “verifiable parental consent” requirement for processing minors’ data."
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