The North News
Chandigarh, March 11
Punjab’s Good Governance and Information Technology Minister Aman Arora has said the state will raise the issue of regulating social media use by minors with the central government, amid growing concerns about children’s safety online.
Speaking in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday, Mr Arora said authorities were considering global approaches to protect young users and exploring the possibility of age-specific rules rather than a blanket ban.
He was responding to a call-attention motion moved by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh.
Mr Arora said restrictions should differentiate between age groups, arguing that children aged eight to 12, teenagers between 13 and 16, and adults should not all be treated the same online.
“A blanket ban can increase curiosity among children and may push them towards unregulated parts of the internet,” he said.
The minister added that the state government wanted the digital era to remain “a period of opportunity, not addiction” for young people.
He outlined what he described as a “Digital Safety Net” approach, saying tackling screen addiction required cooperation between government agencies, schools and parents.
The minister noted that several regions around the world were debating similar policies. He pointed to new legislation in Australia restricting social media accounts for children under 16, while states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were considering similar limits.
Punjab has already launched initiatives aimed at online safety. Under the “Cyber Jaago” programme, teachers from nearly 4,000 government high schools are being trained as digital mentors to help students recognise online risks and manage screen time.
Authorities have also linked the national cybercrime helpline 1930 with the state’s Punjab Police emergency service to allow citizens to report cybercrime through a single number.
Mr Arora said the state was also working to implement provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, including requirements for “verifiable parental consent” when processing children’s data.
Alongside regulation, the government is promoting outdoor activities as an alternative to screen time. The minister said the administration led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had built more than 3,000 village-level stadiums and planned thousands more, as well as indoor gyms.
“If children do not have outdoor options, they remain glued to screens,” he said.
He added that any nationwide rules could be introduced by the central government under the Information Technology Act, 2000, including age-verification requirements for social media platforms.
