The decision follows global calls for stricter scrutiny of minors’ online activity, in the southern Indian state home to the tech hub Bengaluru.

The ban aims to prevent the adverse effects of excessive mobile and internet usage on children. State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the measure in his annual budget speech but did not specify when it would take effect.

Concerns over social media addiction among children have sparked a worldwide debate. Australia banned social media for minors in December, while Britain, Denmark, and Greece are studying similar policies. Other Indian states, such as Goa and Andhra Pradesh, are considering similar restrictions.

India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market, with 750 million devices and over a billion internet users. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, sees India as its biggest market globally.

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Karnataka has a population of 67.6 million, with less than a quarter under the age of 15. Bengaluru, often called India’s Silicon Valley, hosts global tech companies including Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Dell, and Google.

Some experts have raised concerns about enforcement, saying age-based bans can be bypassed with fake IDs. Activists suggest combining restrictions with education to help children and parents develop safe and healthy social media habits.