SEBI issues social media platform usage norms for regulated entities

SEBI issues Social Media Platform Usage norms for regulated entities

• SEBI requires name and registration disclosure on social media.
• Norms apply to all SEBI-regulated entities and their agents.
• Rules effective from May 1, 2026, for all new content.

Did our AI summary help?

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated enhanced disclosure norms for all regulated entities and their agents on social media platforms, requiring them to prominently display their registered name and SEBI registration number on their handles and at the beginning of every securities market-related content.

In a circular issued today, the regulator said the move is part of its “Ease of Doing Investment” (EoDI) initiative and aims to help investors clearly distinguish between content published by SEBI-regulated entities and that circulated by unregistered or unauthorised persons.

The directive applies to all intermediaries registered with SEBI, including stock brokers, depository participants, registrar and share transfer agents (RTAs), investment advisers (IAs), research analysts (RAs), alternative investment funds (AIFs), portfolio managers (PMs), collective investment schemes (CIS), mutual funds and asset management companies (AMCs), as well as InvITs, REITs and other persons regulated by the Board.

Also read: SEBI revamps mutual fund categorisation; tightens overlap norms

SEBI circular stated, “Regulated entities and their agents (mutual fund distributors, distributors of portfolio management services etc.) shall prominently disclose their registered name and registration number on the home page of their social media handles as well as at the beginning of each of the videos/content (which relate to the securities market) uploaded by them”.

SEBI has defined 'social media platforms' broadly to include content published or shared on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, Threads, Telegram and Reddit — whether in public posts or closed groups.

For entities with a single SEBI registration, the registered name and registration number must be displayed near the social media handle name on the home page and also at the beginning of each video, short or other content related to the securities market.

In cases where an entity holds multiple SEBI registrations, for instance, being registered as a stock broker, investment adviser and mutual fund distributor, the home page must carry a weblink directing users to its website listing all SEBI-registered names and registration numbers. However, at the beginning of each specific content piece, only the relevant registration details corresponding to the capacity in which the entity is acting need to be disclosed.

The norms are equally applicable for agents of regulated entities. Where an agent has a single registration, it must disclose the SEBI-registered name and number of the principal entity, followed by its own registered name and registration number, both on the home page and at the start of each content piece. If the agent has multiple registrations, it must provide a weblink listing the registration details of all principal entities along with its own credentials, and disclose only the relevant principal and agent details in individual posts.

The circular will come into effect from May 1, 2026, and will apply to all content uploaded on or after that date. SEBI said the measure is aimed at strengthening conduct standards, increasing transparency and bolstering investor protection amid the rapid rise in the use of social media for securities-related communication.