Karnataka govt weighs mobile phone ban for children below 16: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: The state government is considering a ban on mobile phone usage for children below the age of 16, citing rising concerns over addiction, exposure to harmful content and behavioural issues among minors, The New Indian Express reported on Monday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah raised the issue during a meeting with vice-chancellors of state universities on Saturday. He sought their views on whether restricting mobile phone use among children under 16 could bring about positive behavioural changes.
He cited the examples of Australia and some European countries banning the use of social media for children and said the Karnataka government was seriously considering the implementation of the same in the state.
He expressed concern over growing social media addiction and its possible link to issues such as substance abuse among youngsters. He also asked the vice-chancellors to take steps to make their campuses drug-free.
The proposal comes at a time when smartphones have become deeply embedded in the education system, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to digital learning. Schools now rely on mobile phone-based platforms to share homework, study materials and announcements, making the gadgets both an essential academic tool and a growing source of concern for parents and educators.
Mental health professionals and educators have cautioned that an outright ban may be difficult to implement and could have unintended consequences.
Rakhi N. Gopan, a counselling psychologist, said that the impact of mobile usage varies across age groups. Younger children may face attention and cognitive issues due to fast-paced digital content, while teenagers are more vulnerable to social media pressures, online safety risks and algorithm-driven exposure.
Psychologist Saurabh Ramachandran, who works with adolescents, said many adolescents depend on digital devices for schoolwork, peer interaction and daily routines, and abrupt blocking of access may create a sense of loss, anxiety, irritation or secretive behaviour. He suggested that a phased regulation would help families and schools adapt while encouraging healthier digital habits.
Experts emphasised that excessive digital use is a systemic issue involving families, schools, policymakers and technology platforms, rather than a problem that children alone can be expected to solve. Imposing blanket rules without considering systemic realities such as schools sending homework via phones and parents’ limited ability to constantly monitor usage may not be effective, they said.
Instead, they recommend age-appropriate guidelines, digital literacy education and safer online environments. According to them, the goal should be to equip children with the skills to use technology responsibly while safeguarding their wellbeing.
“What we need instead is regulation, guidance and shared responsibility among parents, schools, policymakers and mental health professionals. Any regulation on phone usage should be brought in through a developmentally compatible policy to avoid a one-size-fits-all ban,” Rakhi said.
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Sex racket busted in Navi Mumbai; two girls rescued, one man arrested
Thane (PTI): Two minor girls were rescued after a prostitution racket was busted in Navi Mumbai, a police official said on Monday.
On a tip off about one Harish running a flesh trade racket, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch started a probe on February 20, the official said.
"A decoy customer was sent to verify the information, following which a trap was laid in front of a hotel in Sector 11. The Anti Human Trafficking Cell nabbed Harish Vikas Chhari, a resident of Koparkhairane, while his associate Raj Singh is on the run. Two minor girls were rescued," the CBD Belapur police station official said.
A case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official added.
