Chennai, December 26, 2025: The Madras High Court has suggested that the Union government examine the feasibility of enacting legislation on the lines of Australia’s recent law that restricts children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The court made the observation while hearing a petition highlighting the easy availability of pornographic content on the internet.
A Division Bench comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan said that until such a statutory framework is put in place, authorities must significantly strengthen awareness campaigns on the dangers of child pornography. The Bench also directed the State and Central Commissions for Protection of Child Rights to prepare and implement a concrete and effective action plan to address the growing risks faced by children online.
Referring to Australia’s recently introduced legislation, the court noted that the responsibility under the law lies with social media companies, which are required to prevent children below 16 from creating accounts, failing which they face heavy penalties. The restriction does not criminalise children or parents but places accountability on digital platforms.
The petitioner had sought directions to internet service providers to offer parental control tools or a dedicated “parental window” facility to restrict access to harmful content. While acknowledging that some awareness programmes are conducted in schools, the court observed that these measures are inadequate considering the rapid increase in children’s digital exposure.
The Bench further noted that internet service providers are governed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under which objectionable websites are blocked when reported. However, the continued accessibility of child sexual abuse material remains a serious concern. The court emphasised that parental control applications, combined with strong user-level awareness, are essential safeguards.
Highlighting the heightened vulnerability of children in the digital ecosystem, the court said parental responsibility becomes even more crucial in preventing exposure to harmful content. It added that end users must be educated about the risks associated with child pornography and the tools available to restrict access.
The petitioner was represented by senior advocate KPS Palanivel Rajan and advocate K Prabakaran, while other respondents were represented by various counsel.
