Supreme Court Asks Centre to Consider Parental Consent for Minors on Social Media
What happened
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to consider whether children under 18 should be able to create social media accounts without parental consent. The question arose during a hearing on a petition seeking stronger safeguards for minors on digital platforms. The court has not imposed a new nationwide account rule.
The issue before the court
The petition, filed by Just Rights for Children Alliance, raises concerns about children agreeing to platform terms and conditions when minors cannot independently enter binding contracts under Indian law. It also seeks changes to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and mechanisms for verified parental consent. The petition describes risks including grooming, cyberbullying and misuse of personal information. These are arguments for consideration, not findings that every platform has breached the law.
What the Centre said
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government would examine the matter. The court is expected to hear it again in four weeks. Any eventual requirement would depend on the government response and further legal or policy decisions. For now, families should not mistake the hearing for an immediate change to how accounts are created.
Why it matters
A consent system raises practical questions beyond the headline. Platforms would need a way to establish a child’s age and confirm a parent or guardian’s approval while handling the data collected in that process responsibly. Rules could also have different effects on teenagers seeking educational, social or support resources online. The present hearing puts those questions before the Centre without settling them. Parents and young users can review an individual platform’s existing age rules and privacy settings while the case continues.
