Karnataka Budget 2026: CM Siddaramaiah announces social media ban for children under 16

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Mar 6, 2026: Presenting the 2026 State Budget on Friday, March 6, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that children below the age of 16 will be barred from using social media.

“To prevent the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage among children, the use of social media will be banned for those under the age of 16,” Siddaramaiah said.

Last month, the Chief Minister had discussed the issue during the Vice-Chancellors’ (VC) conclave held in Bengaluru and sought the opinions of VCs. During the discussion, he raised concerns about mobile phone addiction, online gaming, and the impact of social media on children’s academics and physical fitness.

It may also be recalled that the state government recently launched the “Mobile Bidi Pustaka Hidi” campaign to encourage children to read books and visit libraries.