New Delhi: On January 29, 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman placed the Economic Survey 2025-26 in Parliament. This important report looks at India’s economy and gives ideas on how to make things better. One big part of it talks about how kids are getting hooked on social media and online stuff. The survey says we need rules to stop children from using social media too early. It wants age checks and other steps to keep kids safe.
The Chief Economic Adviser, V Anantha Nageswaran, said social media apps are made in a way that keeps people stuck on them. He called them “predatory by design.” This means they use tricks to make users spend more time online, especially young people between 15 and 24 years old. With over 750 million smartphones in India, this problem is growing fast. The survey warns that too much screen time is hurting kids’ brains, making them less focused, and even causing health issues.
Many people agree with this. Amitabh Kant, who was once the CEO of NITI Aayog, said he fully supports age limits. He posted on X: “100% agree with India’s Economic Survey that we need age limits on social media now. It’s frying kids’ brains, decreasing productivity and focus, and will result in a generation of children that are chronically online and incapable of real-world hard work.” He even said we should ban social media in schools and colleges to build a better India.
But not everyone thinks it’s easy. Some say checking ages will be hard, and parents should handle it themselves. This idea is like what other countries are doing. Australia has banned social media for kids under 16, and France just passed a law for under 15. The survey wants India to think about similar steps to protect its young people.
This report comes at a time when India is growing fast in digital things. But it shows we need to be careful. Too much online time can lead to worry, sadness, bad sleep, and poor studies. The survey says digital addiction is now a big health problem, like other illnesses. It affects not just kids but also how the country grows in the future.
What the Economic Survey Says About Digital Addiction
The Economic Survey 2025-26 spends a lot of time on how digital things are changing lives in India. It says almost everyone aged 15 to 29 has a mobile and internet. This is good for learning and jobs, but now the worry is about too much use. “Digital addiction negatively affects academic performance and workplace productivity due to distractions, ‘sleep debt’, and reduced focus,” the survey notes.
It points out that kids are more at risk. They can get stuck on apps and see bad things online. To fix this, the survey gives clear ideas. First, make rules for age limits on social media. Younger kids should not be allowed at all. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube must check ages properly. They should set things up so kids get safe settings by default. This includes no auto-play videos, no gambling apps, and no ads aimed at kids.
The survey also talks about devices. It says give kids simple phones or tablets just for studies. No fancy features that hook them. At the internet level, it wants plans where families can set limits. For example, more data for school apps but less for fun stuff. It even says block risky sites by default, but parents can change it if they want.
Schools have a big role too. The survey wants more real classes and less online teaching. It says add lessons on digital safety. Kids should learn about cyber bullying and how to use screens wisely. There should be more sports and play time in schools to keep kids active.
For parents, it suggests training programs. Moms and dads need to know how to set screen times and make family rules like no phones at dinner. Communities can help with groups where people share tips. The government can use things like Tele-MANAS for mental health help if kids are affected.
V Anantha Nageswaran, in the survey’s preface, backed states that are trying this. He said: “We are very happy to know that the Andhra Pradesh government is contemplating restricting social media for children under 16. So is the Goan government.” He called digital addiction a “silent scourge” that could hurt India’s growth if we ignore it.
The survey links this to bigger economy issues. If kids are not healthy in mind, they won’t do well in jobs later. India wants to be a big power by 2047, but this could slow it down. It says the cost of health problems from screens is real, like more doctor visits and lost work days.
Expert Views and Support for the Proposal
Many experts and leaders have spoken about this. Amitabh Kant’s strong words got a lot of attention. His post on X got thousands of likes and shares. He said: “This is not how we build Viksit Bharat.” Viksit Bharat means a developed India, and he thinks healthy kids are key.
Sonu Sood, a famous actor, also spoke up. He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban social media for kids under 16 as a national movement. In a video, he said too much online time is bad for mental health.
Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran said at a press meet: “Platforms should be made responsible for enforcing age verification and age-appropriate defaults, particularly for social media, gambling apps, auto-play features, and targeted advertising.” He explained how apps target young people to keep them online longer.
Some doctors agree. A report from NDTV said digital addiction is linked to mental health crisis in youth. It causes anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The survey quotes studies showing kids with too much screen time do worse in school.
But there are critics. Some say age checks invade privacy. How will apps know real ages without asking for IDs? This could lead to data leaks. Others think parents should decide, not the government. Enforcement is tough in a big country like India with so many users.
Amitabh Kant answered this by saying we need strong rules now. He wants outright bans in education places. States like Andhra Pradesh and Goa are already planning limits under 16, following the survey.
How This Fits with Global Trends
India is not alone. Other countries are worried too. Australia led the way. In December 2025, it banned social media for kids under 16. Platforms had to block millions of accounts. Officials said about 4.7 million were removed. The law makes companies take steps to stop young users.
France followed. On January 27, 2026, its lawmakers passed a bill to ban under 15s from social media. It needs Senate approval, but President Emmanuel Macron supports it. He called it a “major step” to protect kids. The law also bans phones in high schools.
In Europe, Britain, Denmark, and Greece are looking at similar rules. Sri Lanka is thinking about it too. In the US, some states like Utah have laws needing parent okay for kids’ accounts.
These moves come from worries about bullying, bad content, and addiction. Australia’s Prime Minister said it’s time to control big tech. France’s bill wants age checks that follow EU privacy rules.
India’s survey echoes this. It says learn from others but make rules for our needs. With 750 million smartphones, India has more users than most. Meta and Google see India as their biggest market. Any limits could hit them hard.
But supporters say kids’ safety comes first. The survey notes how other countries use education and community help too.
Challenges in Making This Happen
Putting age limits in place won’t be easy. First, how to check ages? Apps could ask for Aadhaar or other IDs, but that raises privacy fears. Kids might lie or use fake accounts.
Enforcement is another issue. Who watches if platforms follow rules? The government might need new laws like the Online Gaming Act 2025. But with millions of users, it’s hard.
Critics say it could limit good things. Social media helps kids learn and connect. Banning might push them to secret use, which is riskier.
Parents’ role is key. Many don’t know how to control screens. The survey wants training, but reaching rural areas is tough.
Cost is also a worry. Simpler devices or special plans might be expensive for poor families. The survey says make them cheap, but how?
Despite this, many think it’s worth trying. States starting small can show the way.
The Bigger Picture for India’s Future
This proposal is part of a larger plan for healthy people. The survey says a fit population is key for growth. It talks about other health things like fighting junk food ads.
By 2030, India wants more digital growth, but balanced. The survey warns if we don’t act, mental health costs will rise. It quotes numbers: excessive screens link to 67% harmful content seen by kids.
In the end, the Economic Survey 2025-26 is a wake-up call. It wants action from government, companies, schools, and families. As Nageswaran said, “Young minds are especially vulnerable to compulsive and harmful digital behavior and the country can no longer rely on self-regulation alone.”
FAQs
What is the Economic Survey 2025-26?
The Economic Survey is a yearly report on India’s economy. It looks at past years and gives ideas for the future. In 2025-26, it was tabled on January 29, 2026, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It covers growth, jobs, health, and more. This year, it focused on digital addiction in kids.
Why does the survey want age limits on social media?
It says social media causes addiction, bad mental health, and poor studies. Kids see harmful things and lose focus. With 750 million smartphones, the problem is big. Age limits will protect young users. Platforms must check ages and set safe modes.
What are the main recommendations?
- Age checks and defaults for safe use.
- Simple devices for kids, like basic phones.
- Less online classes, more real school.
- Lessons on digital safety.
- Parent training and community groups.
- Block risky sites at internet level.
Who supports this?
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran calls apps “predatory.” Amitabh Kant says it’s “frying kids’ brains” and wants bans in schools. Actor Sonu Sood wants a national ban under 16. States like Andhra Pradesh and Goa are planning rules.
What do critics say?
It’s hard to enforce. Age checks might hurt privacy. Parents should handle it. Bans could stop good uses like learning.
How does this compare to other countries?
Australia banned under 16 in 2025. France passed under 15 in 2026. US states have parent consent rules. India can learn from them.
Will this become law?
The survey is advice, not law. Government might make rules based on it. States can start their own.
How can parents help now?
Set screen times, no phones at meals or bed. Talk about online safety. Use apps to track use. Join parent groups.