Kids under 13 could face new social media rules — here’s what the Bill proposes

Children under 13 could be prevented from creating accounts on social media and online gaming platforms without verified parental consent under a proposed private member’s Bill in Parliament.

The Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (SHIELD) Bill, 2025, also seeks to introduce stricter safeguards for minors online, including mandatory age verification and restrictions on personalised advertising.

The Bill was proposed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda and was among two private members’ Bills scheduled to be introduced in Parliament on Friday. However, it could not be taken up because of adjournments in the House.

Private members’ Bills rarely become law, with only around a dozen having cleared Parliament since Independence.

Parental controls and age verification proposed

The SHIELD Bill defines a child as anyone below 18 and proposes specific safety obligations for social media services, online gaming platforms and other digital intermediaries.

Platforms accessible to minors would be required to put in place age-verification systems. The Bill also proposes parental-control dashboards that would allow guardians to monitor online activity, manage privacy settings and restrict screen time.

For children below 13, account creation would require verified parental consent under the proposed legislation.

Restrictions on tracking and targeted ads

The proposed law would prohibit platforms from tracking or profiling children and from using personalised advertising to target them.

It also seeks to limit minors’ exposure to potentially harmful online material. Platforms would have to take measures to prevent children from accessing pornography, gambling and simulated betting, violent or extremist material and drug-related content.

The provisions would apply to social media platforms, online gaming services and other digital intermediaries covered by the proposed law.

Platforms could face ₹10 crore penalty

Platforms found violating the proposed provisions could face penalties of up to ₹10 crore.

Repeated or wilful violations could lead to stronger action, including temporary suspension or blocking of services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

The second private member’s Bill scheduled for introduction on Friday seeks to regulate the misuse of artificial intelligence to create realistic imitations of people. However, like the SHIELD Bill, it could not be introduced because of the adjournment.

The proposals remain private members’ Bills and would need to go through the parliamentary process before they could become law.