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GG&IT Minister Aman Arora says blanket bans are ineffective; calls for content filters and parental awareness
Chandigarh: Amid rising concerns over children’s safety in the digital space, Punjab Good Governance and Information Technology (GG&IT) Minister Aman Arora on Tuesday said the state government will take up with the Centre the need to frame age-specific regulations for social media use by minors.
Responding to a call attention motion moved by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh in the Punjab Assembly, Arora said that a blanket ban on social media for children is not an effective solution. Age-based guidelines were needed to regulate digital content.
“This needs to be age-specific. Content appropriate for children aged 8–12 cannot be the same for those aged 13–16 or above 18,” the minister said, warning that outright bans often push young users toward unregulated corners of the internet.
Punjab to Study Global Best Practices
Arora said the Punjab government would also examine global models while framing its proposal for the Union government. He pointed out that countries such as Australia have enacted laws restricting social media use by users under 16. Similar measures are also being discussed in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where authorities are considering limits for users under 13.
The minister said the Centre could introduce regulations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, including mandatory age-verification.
Highlighting Punjab’s efforts to address digital addiction among children, Arora said the government has launched a “Digital Safety Net” strategy involving schools, parents and government agencies.
Under the Cyber Jaago initiative, run in collaboration with the Punjab Police Cyber Crime Division and the IT Department, teachers in 3,968 government high schools are being trained as “Digital Mentors” to educate students about online safety and responsible internet usage.
Punjab Police has also integrated the national cybercrime helpline 1930 with the Dial-112 emergency response system, allowing citizens to report cyber fraud, cyberbullying and other online offences through a single emergency number. The state has additionally launched Project Jeevan Jyot 2.0, which sets up district-level task forces to address online exploitation and abuse of children.
Outdoor Activities to Reduce Screen Addiction
Arora also highlighted the government’s efforts, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, to promote sports and reduce children’s dependence on screens. According to the minister, the state has already constructed 3,100 village-level stadiums and plans to build another 6,000, along with 1,000 indoor gyms currently under construction and proposals for 5,000 more.
“If children do not get opportunities for outdoor activities, they remain glued to screens. We aim to channelise their energy into sports and physical activities,” he said.
Focus on Data Protection for Minors
Arora added that the state government is also working with the Centre to implement provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, particularly the requirement of verifiable parental consent for processing the personal data of minors.
Schools across Punjab are being encouraged to organise counselling sessions to address screen addiction, cyber risks and mental health issues among students, he said. Emphasising the broader goal, the minister said the government wanted to ensure that the digital era becomes an opportunity for children, not an addiction.
