The Supreme Court on September 28 asked the Centre to consider framing statutory rules for social media platforms concerning minors, including enforcing an 18-year minimum age for independent account creation, according to medianama.com. The court was hearing a plea filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance (JRCA), which seeks age verification, parental consent, and other safeguards for minors on digital platforms.
During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that guidelines alone are insufficient and called for statutory measures. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta responded that "something can be done, something should be done and will be done." Senior Advocate HS Phoolka cited Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, noting that contracts with minors are void under existing law, underscoring the legal basis for restricting minors' independent use of social media. The bench included Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana.
The petition by JRCA does not seek to ban internet use by minors but aims to ensure platforms comply with Indian law, including intermediary rules. The issue has been under discussion since November 2025, when the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. However, no binding rules have been established yet, despite concerns raised by courts, states, and the Centre over several months.
The Supreme Court's directive to the Centre to explore statutory rules marks a key step toward regulating minors' social media use. The next phase involves the government considering legal provisions that require platforms to align their software with Indian law, as urged by Justice Bagchi during the hearing.