Punjab to approach Centre to frame rules on social media use by minors: Arora

Chandigarh: Punjab minister Aman Arora on Wednesday informed the assembly that the state govt will take the matter up with the Centre to frame rules on social media use by minors and to evaluate global best practices to safeguard children's interests.Responding to a call attention motion moved by independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh, Arora said 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 said. He said the state govt was committed to protecting children and ensuring the digital age remained a period of opportunity, not addiction.Referring to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, 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 on screen addiction and mental health, he added.Outlining the state govt's comprehensive "Digital Safety Net" strategy to combat rising mobile phone addiction and children's exposure to harmful online content, Arora said the battle against digital addiction required a collective front involving the govt, schools, and, most importantly, parents. "This concern is not limited to Punjab or even India. It has emerged as a pressing global policy issue," said the minister, informing that Australia recently enacted a law restricting social media accounts for children below 16, while Karnataka proposed a similar ban. Andhra Pradesh is considering restricting access for those aged below 13.Arora said Punjab had already launched multiple initiatives to tackle the challenge proactively. The state govt rolled out Cyber Jaago initiative, run in collaboration with the cyber crime division of Punjab Police and the IT department, transitioning from reactive policing to preventive education. To ensure swift response to cyber complaints, Punjab Police 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 also launched Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0, establishing district-level task forces specifically addressing online exploitation and abuse of children, he added.