The Supreme Court has requested responses from the Centre and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights regarding a public interest litigation that advocates for a national framework aimed at safeguarding children from risks associated with social media platforms. This request was made on Friday.

Details of the Petition

The petition was submitted by Emerald Heights International School, located in Indore, and its academic director, Siddharth Singh Girnar. It calls for the implementation of mandatory age verification, age-appropriate access, verifiable parental consent, and enhanced protections against cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, harmful content, and excessive use of social media.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi has issued notices to the ministries responsible for women and child development, as well as law and justice, along with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The petition was filed through Vaibhav Choudhary and has been tagged with another pending case, with a hearing scheduled for December 7.

The petition argues that the failure of the respondents to adequately protect children from foreseeable risks, such as grooming, sexual exploitation, and cyberbullying, constitutes an arbitrary and unreasonable violation of Articles 14, 15(3), 21, and 21A of the Constitution.

Proposed Measures for Child Protection

The petition seeks a judicial order directing the Centre to establish a comprehensive and enforceable regulatory framework aimed at protecting children from the dangers associated with social media usage. It specifically requests that the Centre prohibit children below a certain age from using social media platforms and regulate access for those above that age.

Additionally, the petition calls for the Centre to implement age-based restrictions regarding the creation, maintenance, and use of accounts by children on designated social media platforms. The school has highlighted instances of underage children managing social media accounts, encountering strangers, experiencing cyberbullying, and suffering from sleep deprivation and diminished concentration due to excessive mobile phone use.

Concerns raised by parents regarding their children’s excessive screen time, anxiety related to online popularity, body-image issues, social withdrawal, and a decline in academic and outdoor activities have also been noted in the petition. It asserts that schools and parents cannot tackle these issues independently, as the risks are linked not only to online content but also to the design and operation of platforms that promote prolonged engagement.

Vulnerabilities of Children on Social Media

The petition emphasises that children are particularly susceptible to grooming, sexual exploitation, blackmail, impersonation, the sharing of private images, and exposure to violent or sexually explicit material, as well as content related to self-harm. These vulnerabilities underscore the urgent need for regulatory measures to protect minors in the digital space.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the matter on December 7, the responses from the Centre and the child rights commission will be vital in determining the future course of action regarding child protection on social media platforms.

The outcome of this case could potentially lead to significant changes in how social media is regulated for children in India, aiming to create a safer online environment for the younger population.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share