Government to tighten rules to block under-18 accounts on social media platforms

NEW DELHI: Agreeing with Supreme Court, Centre on Monday said it would soon insert a provision in the Information and Technology Intermediary Rules to prevent social media intermediaries from allowing children under 18 years of age to open social media accounts, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.Agreeing with the bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana as well as petitioner NGO 'Just Rights for Children Alliance' counsel H S Phoolka, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the agreements entered into by intermediaries and minors were void contracts and these must be prevented.Membership of educational websites can be taken through consent of parents," solicitor general Tushar Mehta said, adding that Centre would step in to make it a statutory obligation for intermediaries not to allow minors to have social media accounts.Justice Bagchi said, "They have registered under the laws of US and imported into Indian digital space the restrictions which…