The Supreme Court recognized children's internet access under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a), but legal experts clarify this does not create an unrestricted right to operate social accounts. Starting in May 2027, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act will define individuals under 18 as children and enforce verifiable parental consent for handling their data. Meanwhile, states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are drafting local age restrictions, while advocates propose age-tiered usage brackets. Platforms must also deploy detection tools for illicit material and face stricter Supreme Court compliance reporting mandates.
Key points
Constitutional access to online networks does not grant minors an unqualified legal right…: Constitutional access to online networks does not grant minors an unqualified legal right to open social media accounts.
State governments and legal experts are actively advancing tiered, age-specific regulatio…: State governments and legal experts are actively advancing tiered, age-specific regulations to restrict juvenile platform access.
Social media companies face strict obligations under the POCSO and Information Technology…: Social media companies face strict obligations under the POCSO and Information Technology Acts to monitor harm and report compliance.
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NEW DELHI: For a child, the same phone that opens a classroom can also open a chat with a stranger. The internet offers space to learn, play and build friendships, but access brings risks that children may not yet know how to recognise and parents cannot always monitor.
Recent Supreme Court proceedings on children’s online safety have brought that tension into focus: How can children exercise their rights online without being left exposed to harm? The answer involves more than parental supervision. It raises questions about age-based restrictions, privacy and the responsibility of social media companies to make their platforms safer.
A child's right to use the internetIn its October 15, 2026, order in Just Rights for Children Alliance v S. Harish, a two-judge Supreme Court bench observed that children have a fundamental right to access the internet under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The court also recognised that children may need special safeguards, including parental consent and a child-friendly mode.
This does not mean every child has an automatic right to open a social media account. In…
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