Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu announces social media ban for children under 13

Chandrababu Naidu//Andhra Pradesh CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that social media will be banned for children under 13. The ban will be implemented in phases over the next 90 days.

Naidu also said the state government is considering whether to extend the restriction to teenagers aged 13 to 16, indicating that further measures could be introduced after consultations and a policy review.

The announcement comes shortly after a similar move by the government in Karnataka, which has proposed banning social media use for children under 16.

Karnataka social media ban

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement on Friday while presenting the state budget for the financial year 2026–27.

According to a PTI report, Siddaramaiah said the decision was aimed at reducing the negative impact of rising mobile phone usage among children.

“With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16," he said during the budget presentation.

Alongside the proposed restriction, the Karnataka government also announced several education and student welfare initiatives.

The state plans to fill 15,000 vacant teaching posts in schools and colleges in the next fiscal year. The budget has also set aside Rs 565 crore for constructing new classrooms and carrying out repair work in government primary schools, high schools and pre-university colleges.

In addition, Rs 75 crore has been allocated for building toilets in schools, while Rs 25 crore will be used to procure furniture for educational institutions. Another Rs 125 crore has been earmarked for maintenance work in government schools and colleges across the state, the PTI report said.