A proposed private member’s bill in Parliament could significantly change the way children under the age of 13 access social media and online gaming platforms in India. The Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives, or SHIELD Bill, 2025, moved by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, seeks stronger safeguards for children in the digital environment.
Under the proposal, children below 13 could be prevented from creating accounts on social media platforms and online gaming services unless they have verified parental consent. The proposal is part of a wider attempt to address concerns surrounding children’s exposure to harmful online content, excessive screen time, targeted advertising, tracking and other digital risks.
The proposed legislation comes at a time when children are spending increasing amounts of time online. Social media platforms, video-sharing services, multiplayer games and other digital applications have become a routine part of children’s entertainment and communication. While these services can provide educational and social benefits, policymakers have also raised concerns about their potential effects on younger users.
The SHIELD Bill proposes mandatory age-verification mechanisms for platforms that are accessible to minors. This would place a greater responsibility on technology companies to determine whether a user is old enough to access particular services.
Parental involvement would also become an important part of the proposed framework. The bill envisages parental-control dashboards through which guardians could monitor children’s online activity, manage privacy settings and impose limits on screen time. Such controls are intended to give parents greater visibility into how children use digital platforms.
The proposal goes beyond simply restricting account creation. It seeks to address the way children’s data is handled by online companies. According to details reported about the bill, platforms would be prohibited from tracking and profiling children and from using their personal information to deliver personalised advertising.
The bill defines a child as a person below 18 for several of its protections. This means that even children older than 13 could receive additional safeguards against certain digital practices.
Another important feature is protection from harmful content. The proposed framework would require platforms to take steps to prevent minors from being exposed to pornography, gambling and simulated betting, violent or extremist material and drug-related content.
The proposal also contains financial consequences for platforms that fail to comply. Reports on the bill say violations could attract penalties of up to ₹10 crore. Repeated or deliberate violations could potentially lead to stronger action, including temporary suspension or blocking of services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
However, the proposal is still at the legislative stage. It should not be interpreted as an immediate nationwide ban on social media accounts for children below 13. The bill was scheduled for introduction in Parliament but could not be taken up because of adjournments.
If the proposal eventually moves forward, it could lead to a broader debate about the balance between child safety, parental responsibility, privacy and access to technology. Supporters are likely to argue that children need stronger protection in an increasingly digital world, while critics may question how age verification would work without creating new privacy risks.
The SHIELD Bill therefore represents an important policy discussion rather than a final change in Indian law. Its progress through Parliament will determine whether the proposed safeguards eventually become legally enforceable.