Amid growing global concerns over children's vulnerability in the digital space, Punjab Good Governance and Information Technology (GG&IT) Minister Mr. Aman Arora informed that the state government will take the matter with the Centre government to frame rules regarding social media usage by minors, besides, evaluating global best practices to safeguard children's interests.
Responding to a call attention motion moved by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Aman Arora stated, “this needs to be age-specific. We must delineate what content is appropriate for children aged 8 to 12, versus 13 to 16 and what is suitable for those above 18. A blanket ban often increases the psychological interest of children in the prohibited item and such prohibitions often drive young users towards the dark, unregulated corners of the Internet.”
He assured that the state government was committed to protecting children and ensuring that the digital age remained a period of opportunity, not addiction. Outlining the state government's comprehensive "Digital Safety Net" strategy to combat rising mobile phone addiction and exposure of children to harmful online content, Mr. Aman Arora said that the battle against digital addiction requires a collective front involving the government, schools and most importantly parents.
This concern is not limited to Punjab or even India. It has emerged as a pressing global policy issue," the GG&IT Minister said, while informing that Australia has 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 years.
Mr. Aman Arora revealed that Punjab has already launched multiple initiatives to tackle the challenge proactively. The state government has rolled out the Cyber Jaago initiative, run in collaboration with Cyber Crime Division of Punjab Police and the IT Department, transitioning from reactive policing to preventive education.
Under this programme, teachers across 3,968 government high schools are being trained as "Digital Mentors" to educate students on identifying online threats and managing screen time. To ensure swift response to cyber complaints, Punjab Police has integrated the national cybercrime helpline (1930) with the state's Dial-112 emergency response system.
Citizens can now report online fraud, cyberbullying or cybercrime incidents through the single emergency number. It has also launched Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0, establishing district-level task forces specifically addressing online exploitation and abuse of children, he added.
Referring to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Mr Aman Arora said the state was working closely with the Centre to implement its "verifiable parental consent" mandate for processing data of minors. The state is committed to strictly adhering to these age-gating and safety-by-design principles. Schools are being encouraged to organise counselling sessions addressing screen addiction and mental health.
In a significant move to counter "indoor" digital addiction, the Minister highlighted that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government has constructed 3,100 ultra-modern stadiums at the village level and plans to construct another 6,000, with 1,000 indoor gyms under construction and plans for 5,000 more.
“If children don't get outdoor activities, they remain glued to screens. Our goal is to channelise youth energy toward sports as a direct, healthy alternative to screen time," Mr Arora emphasised.
The Minister said that legal restrictions on social media usage by minors could be implemented through rules framed by the Government of India under the Information Technology Act, 2000, including age-verification requirements for social media intermediaries.