PM Modi praises Australia’s social media ban for minors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed support for Australia's social media ban for minors, signaling that the Indian government is considering similar legislative restrictions. Indian officials are currently exploring graded age-based access controls to protect children from online harms.
Why it matters
This indicates a potential shift in Indian digital policy toward stricter state regulation of social media platforms to address mental health and safety concerns among youth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 9, 2026) praised Australia’s ban on social media access for teenagers, in the clearest indication so far that the Union government is mulling similar curbs. “I have followed you closely, and the way you have legislated and worked to protect society in IT and social media is inspiring the world,” Mr. Modi told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in remarks open to the press. The Prime Minister is on a bilateral visit to Australia.
The report neutrally documents the Prime Minister's comments and the government's ongoing policy discussions without taking a stance on the efficacy of the bans.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in