Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 13:22 IST As part of the state’s Rs 4.48 lakh crore 2026‑27 budget, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announced a proposal to ban social media use by children under the age of 16 Government sources had already signalled in recent weeks that Karnataka was preparing a broader digital safety policy for children, consulting experts from education, mental health, and technology fields. The Karnataka government is planning to ban social media for children under the age of 16, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as he presented the state budget for 2026‑27 on Friday. “With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16,” Siddaramaiah said, signalling a bold step aimed at curbing screen time and promoting digital wellness among minors. The move positions Karnataka alongside countries like Australia and parts of Europe, which have implemented strict age‑based access limits, while raising questions about feasibility, enforcement, and the balance between protection and digital rights. As part of the state’s Rs 4.48 lakh crore …