India May Opt for Device-Level Content Restrictions for Children
Proposed controls could limit apps, late-night use and harmful content on smartphones
Hyderabad: The Centre is examining ways to rein in excessive mobile phone use among children, with officials discussing stronger parental controls, age-based access settings and device-level restrictions that could be built into smartphones sold in India.
The move is being seen as part of a wider effort to address screen addiction, online-safety concerns and the growing influence of AI-powered applications on minors. Industry sources said the central idea was to create a safer digital environment for children without completely blocking their access to educational tools and emergency communication.
Under the proposed framework, phones may be required to offer a clearly defined “minor mode” that can limit app downloads, restrict late-night usage, filter harmful content and allow parents to set daily screen-time limits.
Officials are also studying whether manufacturers and application developers should be made more accountable for incorporating safety-by-design features. The discussions come as the protection of children on digital platforms has emerged as a growing policy concern in India, particularly as school-age users spend more time on short-video applications, gaming platforms and AI chat tools.
“The challenge is not merely the amount of screen time but also the quality of that screen time,” said Dr S Kavitha, a Hyderabad-based digital-safety researcher. “If India introduces a standardised minor mode, it could give parents greater control while preserving children’s access to learning and communication. However, enforcement and industry compliance will determine whether it works in practice.”
The debate has gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Australia’s nationwide restrictions on social-media use by children under the age of 16. During the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne on July 9, Modi said India was learning from Australia’s efforts to regulate social media and protect young users.
Australia’s law, which came into force in December 2025, requires major platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users below the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. The restrictions cover platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Other countries are also moving towards similar restrictions. China has proposed rules to embed minor-mode functions in devices, including usage limits and night-time restrictions. In the United Kingdom, authorities have considered digital curfews for teenagers, including restrictions on access to social media during sleeping hours, as part of a broader online-safety initiative. Several European countries are also considering tighter age-related restrictions on children’s access to social-media platforms.
For India, the policy debate is likely to involve balancing child safety, parental choice and the commercial interests of handset manufacturers and application developers. Any final decision would have to work across the Android and iPhone ecosystems while taking into account India’s large youth population and rapidly expanding smartphone market.
Dr Kavitha said the government was seriously working on introducing several safeguards and that the coming months could determine how the country defines safe mobile-phone use for minors.
