INDIA JOINS MISSION TO CURB SOCIAL MEDIA MENACE, KARNATAKA AND HIMACHAL ANNOUNCES BAN FOR KIDS UNDER 16 AND TAMIL NADU BANS POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS EVENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS

With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16,as per the State Government of Himachal pradesh and the Karnatka where as the central government's economic survey tabled in parliament in January this year said aged based access to online platforms should be considered while also cutting down online teaching to avoid digital addiction. In 2025 , Australia became the first country to ban social media for the children under 16.The Tamil Nadu government has formally prohibited private schools from hosting political, ideological or communal activities on their premises, citing the need to maintain school capsus as neutral academic zones. The School Education department, through a government order issued on March 2,has notified significant amendments to the Tamil Nadu private schools (Regulation) Rules The move aims to ensure that educational infrastructure is urilised primarily and exclusively for students welfare and academic instruction. According to the amended rules, no school premises including buildings, play grounds or halls -- shall be used for any programme, meeting, campaigns, or instruction by external persons or organizations that are political, ideological, communal, or divisive. Crucially, the ban applies both during and outside school hours, effectively barring such events on weekends, public holidays, and during winter or summer vacations. Further the Tamil Nadu government clarified that non -sectarian and non -political events, such as blood donation camps, social service programmes, and the cultural functions, may still be permitted. However these will require prior permission from the competent authority and must be conducted under the direct supervision of the schools educational agency:-- Er Fateh chand Guleria Director, RTI welfare Association registered number HPCD, 3552 , Bilaspur Himachal pradesh phone number 9459334377