NHRC Sparks National Debate On Shielding Children From Digital Toxicity

With 76% of children aged 14–16 using smartphones to access social media, and 57% for educational purposes, India’s top rights body has begun a serious policy deliberation on whether impressionable mind’s access to social media should be banned, regulated, or fundamentally redesigned through stronger accountability mechanisms for technology platforms to, at the same time, shield them from digital harm.

These questions formed the basis of a national consultation initiated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently, reflecting growing concern over the impact of the digital ecosystem on children. The scale of access, combined with the intensity of online exposure, has made the issue both urgent and complex, said the NRC officials.

The deliberation held under the guidance of Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson of the top rights body, brought together policymakers, academics, civil society groups, cyber and child rights experts, underscoring the breadth of stakeholder engagement required to address the issue.

The consultation comes at a time when concerns are mounting in India and globally over children's exposure to harmful content, exploitative algorithms, cyber fraud, sexual abuse material, and the growing problem of digital dependency. At the heart of the discussion was a difficult and delicate policy dilemma: can age-based restrictions protect children without depriving them of the educational, social and developmental benefits of digital platforms?

NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal pointed to a range of growing risks, including cyberbullying, data privacy exploitation, child sexual abuse material, cyber fraud and exposure to inappropriate content. He called for a balanced approach that protects children while recognising the realities of widespread digital access.

NHRC Member Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi too agreed as he argued that children should not be deprived of the benefits of technology in a digital-first world. He supported the idea of a uniform central law to ensure equal protection and opportunity across India. Several participants echoed the view that children, as citizens, have a right to participate in the digital public sphere.

From the government’s side, S. Krishnan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, indicated that steps are already being taken to make digital spaces safer. These include recent measures mandating the labelling of synthetically generated content and restricting unlawful posts. His remarks suggested a gradual shift towards a more active model of platform accountability.

The discussion also extended beyond legal frameworks to include concerns related to child psychology and mental health. Experts warned of risks such as emotional dysregulation, loneliness, reduced empathy, exposure to inappropriate animated content, manipulative platform design and excessive dependence on online validation.

For instance, specialists from institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), along with representatives from UNICEF and various child protection bodies, stressed that legislative measures alone would be insufficient. They called for a comprehensive approach involving behavioural preparedness, digital literacy, awareness campaigns and parental education.

They also called for strong support for fixing accountability across the digital ecosystem, including internet service providers, social media platforms, app stores and technology companies deploying opaque algorithmic systems. Among the proposals discussed was an age-linked framework—banning social media access for children below 13 while regulating access for those above 14—alongside measures such as default safety settings, stricter app store due diligence, monitoring of VPN misuse and enhanced training for law enforcement agencies.

Aishwarya Dongre, Deputy Director, I4C raised concerns about the increasing availability of inappropriate content in the form of animation. She explained how proactive work is undertaken to locate and combat Child Sexual Abuse Material. She called for empowering children to become responsible citizens in a digital age while Dr. Muktesh Chander, Special Monitor, NHRC suggested regulating internet gateways to ensure better control and monitoring.

Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Member-Secretary, NCPCR said that apart from legislation, an awareness drive is required for sensitising children and parents on the advantages and disadvantages of social media. At the same time, Dr. Sneha, KAS, Director, Integrated Child Protection Directorate, Department of WCD, Karnataka said that the Karnataka government is finalising guidelines on children’s access to social media.

Kabir K. Shirgaonkar, Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication, Goa and Syed Mohsin Ali, Deputy Director, Child Protection Development Unit, Department of WCD, Delhi said that their respective state governments too are considering regulation in this regard.

Dr. Laxmi Vijay Kumar, Sneha Foundation said a temporary ban could provide time to develop protections, given the brain's plasticity until the age of 16 while Zaffrin Chowdhury, Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, UNICEF endorsed restrictions on social media after due stakeholder consultations, including children.

At the same time, Sharmila Ray, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF highlighted the need to address behavioural issues while Swagata Raha, Head, Restorative Practices, Enfold India said that evidence-based approach will be necessary before adopting regulations for children’s access to social media. She also pointed out how social media serves as an equaliser, breaking societal barriers.

Rakesh Senger, Executive Director, Kailash Satyarthi Foundation emphasised that the primary responsibility for child safety should lie with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and social media platforms through stricter regulation and real-time monitoring.

Dr. Manoj Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS (SHUT Clinic) emphasised that while digital access is now integral to youth lifestyles, a holistic approach focusing on behavioural "preparedness" and lifestyle modification may be more effective than bans. Anuradha Joshi, Principal of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya said that social media use is neither good nor bad, it depends on how one uses it. She said that devices promote loneliness therefore, safety measures on mobile phones are essential.

Sourabh Ghosh from Research and Knowledge Exchange, CRY suggested continuous awareness and capacity building for children, teachers and parents. Dr. Karnika Seth, cyber lawyer and public policy expert said that children, as citizens of India, also have rights and therefore regulated use of social media instead of an outright ban.

Strengthening regulation and updating legal frameworks would be a more practical and effective solution, said Hasina Kharbhih, founder and chairperson, Impulse NGO Network, Meghalaya while Dr. Amit Sen, Director, Children First opined that regulations should be centralised but should have adequate scope to accommodate local, cultural and societal contexts as India is a very large and diverse country.

The NHRC will now review the submissions made during the discussion before finalising its recommendations. Reflecting on the NHRC deliberations, Dr. Vikas Pant, Head of School, St John’s Convent Senior Secondary School, Sant Nagar, Burari, Delhi, told The Outlook that the impact is already visible in classrooms.

He noted a marked decline in students’ responsiveness and expressiveness during lessons in recent years. “I believe this decline is directly linked to the surge in early-age mobile addiction. When children are tethered to screens, their brains are conditioned for passive consumption and instant hits of dopamine rather than the active, critical thinking required in a classroom. This digital dependency erodes social stamina and verbal confidence, leaving students physically present but mentally distant. We are witnessing a generation losing the art of dialogue to the glow of a screen,” he said, adding that with a rapidly growing population of young internet users, India faces a critical moment, where policy choices could shape how children engage with the digital world.