Government to implement a 'risk-based' approach for age-gating on social media

The government is developing a comprehensive "risk-based" framework with a variety of choices for social media and other internet intermediaries. This is done to impose age-gating (limiting user access depending on age) so that social media platforms can only be used with parental authorization. Importantly, compliance with this approach will be required of significant social media platforms such as Meta, which controls Instagram and Facebook, and Google, which operates YouTube. These principles will also apply to edtech platforms and health-related applications that manage user data.  

In the new framework, age verification for minors is expected to be done using document stores in DigiLocker, Aadhaar-based verification, A Digital Token or the App Store level, according to a government official.

The official said, "There cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach here. Social media companies will need to adhere to stricter age-gating as the possibility of a stranger getting in touch with children or vice-versa is much greater here, compared to say, an education app or a website."

Minors between 9 years old and 17 years old spend at least three hours per day on social media, videos, or OTT, according to 61 per cent of urban Indian parents, a Local Circles survey found. 

Parents are also more concerned about their children becoming more dependent, aggressive, impatient, depressed and countless other issues, according to the report. Parents have also described their children as hyperactive. About 73 per cent of parents want their consent to be needed before their minor children can create an account on any social media platform.