Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, hinted on Tuesday that the state government is seriously weighing up plans to curb social media use for children under the age of 16. He voiced his growing unease over how digital platforms are reshaping the mindsets of the younger generation. Another argument put forward by Fadnavis is that social media has transcended the stage of providing only entertainment and has reached the stage where it is functioning as a mechanism to control human thought.
He also pointed out that the algorithms are programmed to deliver content that the user already likes, and this process forces the human mind to conform to a particular pattern. The Deputy Chief Minister also lamented a wider societal decline in attention spans. He noted that the popularity of 30-second clips has eroded people's patience for long-form information. Even personally, he admitted that his own habit of avid reading has suffered because of these digital distractions— a trend he described as a significant challenge.
The topic came to the fore during a conversation with Bollywood star Aamir Khan, who questioned whether Maharashtra would follow the lead of states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in considering age-based bans. Fadnavis confirmed that the matter is indeed under active discussion, noting that several regions are currently debating where to draw the line— whether at 16 or 17 years old.
While he stopped short of confirming an outright ban immediately, he was firm about the need for some form of intervention. He stated that while he wouldn't commit to a total prohibition just yet, it is essential to find ways to halt the adverse effects these platforms have on children. As Maharashtra is one of India's most influential states, any move towards stricter digital regulation would likely set a major precedent for the rest of the country.
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