CM Seeks VCs’ Views on Banning Mobiles, Social Media for Children Below 16

CM Seeks VCs’ Views on Banning Mobiles, Social Media for Children Below 16

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 22, 2026: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday sought the views of vice-chancellors on a proposal to ban mobile phones and social media access for children below 16 years in Karnataka.

Raising the issue during an interaction at the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, the Chief Minister said excessive gadget use was adversely affecting children’s learning, behaviour and mental health. Referring to measures adopted in countries such as Australia, he said Karnataka was exploring similar steps and invited academic heads to share their opinions.

“Children are falling prey to drugs. In line with developments in countries like Australia, there is a thought to ban mobile phones among students below 16. I want your opinion on this,” he said, clarifying that the proposal would not apply to adults.

While several vice-chancellors reportedly supported the move, some expressed practical concerns, noting that many private and elite schools assign homework through mobile applications. Siddaramaiah responded that his primary concern was students in government schools and stressed the need to prevent them from being misled.

Officials said the government has sought formal feedback from academic heads to study the feasibility of implementation, enforcement mechanisms and possible exemptions for academic purposes.

The proposal comes amid rising concerns over teenage social media addiction, with the government citing poor academic focus, behavioural changes, mental health issues and exposure to harmful content, including drug networks.

During the recent Assembly session, Electronics and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the government was consulting stakeholders on ensuring responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and social media, particularly by children.

Similar discussions are under way in other states. The Government of Goa is examining a proposal to bar children under 16 from accessing platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and X.

In Andhra Pradesh, the government is considering stricter regulations to limit minors’ access to social media. Education Minister Nara Lokesh said concerns include online harassment of women and the impact of excessive screen time on children’s attention span and academic performance. The state has constituted a Group of Ministers headed by him and invited major technology firms, including Meta Platforms, X Corp., Google and ShareChat, to discuss global best practices and measures to make social media safer for women and children.