Parents' Approval Will Be Necessary: Govt's New Plan Regarding Children's Social Media Accounts

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Jan 03, 2025
• 317

The government is going to make parental permission mandatory for opening social media accounts for children. This rule is in the new draft of data protection. This draft states that companies will have to take parental permission before using children's data. This permission will have to be taken before using the data. Meaning, companies cannot use or store children's data until they get parental permission.

This draft has come under the Digital Data Protection Act, 2023. It explains the consent of the people, the companies using the data and the way the officials work. But it does not say what will be the punishment for breaking the rules. However, under the Act, companies misusing the data can be fined up to Rs 250 crore.

The government has asked people to give their suggestions and objections on the MyGov website by February 18, 2025. The notification states that '...the said draft rules will be considered after February 18, 2025.' That is, there can be changes in it now. This is an important step for the online safety of children.

These draft rules have been made to protect the online data of children. Nowadays children are also very active on social media. There is a risk of their information being misused. That is why the government has taken this step. According to the new rule, if a company wants to take the data of a child below 18 years of age, then it will first have to take permission from his parents. This permission can be taken in any way, either in writing or online, but it should be clear that the parents have given permission.