PM Modi praises Australia's social media ban for minors

📌 Summary:

• PM Narendra Modi, on a bilateral visit to Australia, praised Australia's ban on social media access for teenagers — the clearest indication so far that the Union government is mulling similar curbs

• "The way you have legislated and worked to protect society in IT and social media is inspiring the world," Mr. Modi told Australian PM Anthony Albanese

• Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, 2024 requires platforms to detect and block access to minors below 16

• MeitY officials have said India is exploring a "graded" set of restrictions — allowing some social media access while blocking certain content categories depending on the age cohort of a minor

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Internal Security / GS2 Governance — regulation of social media, child safety online, comparative legislative models (Australia), and India's proposed graded age-based restrictions.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, 2024 mandates blocking social media access for those under 16

• MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and IT) is the nodal ministry for social media regulation in India

🔑 Key Term: Age-gating — technological measures requiring platforms to verify users' ages and restrict access or content for minors.