Bring in law to regulate use of mobile phone by children: panel
The Commission emphasised the need for the government to establish laws setting age limits and controlling screen time among children
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Context
The has directed the state government to frame legislation regulating mobile phone and screen use for children under 18. This directive, initiated suo motu following a school incident, proposes a high-level committee to establish age limits and screen time regulations, highlighting a growing policy focus on digital well-being.
UPSC Perspectives
Social
This development underscores the emerging focus on digital rights and child development within the broader context of social policy. Unregulated screen time has been linked to various negative outcomes, including cognitive delays, sleep disruption, and increased vulnerability to cyberbullying and inappropriate content. The state's intervention acknowledges that child welfare now extends beyond traditional concerns (like nutrition and primary education) into the digital realm. From a UPSC perspective, this touches upon the Right to Health (implicit in ) and the need to balance educational technology benefits with the psychological well-being of minors. Students should analyze this trend as part of the evolving nature of child protection in the 21st century, comparing it with international precedents where governments are increasingly acting to curb technology's impact on youth.
Governance
The action by the (KSCPCR) exemplifies the crucial role of statutory bodies in driving policy innovation. The KSCPCR, established under the , is exercising its mandate to monitor safeguards and recommend legislative measures. The proposed inter-departmental approach (involving Education, Police, and various secretaries) illustrates the concept of convergence in governance—recognizing that complex issues like digital addiction cannot be tackled by a single department. However, regulating private behavior (screen time at home) presents significant enforcement challenges. A key analytical point for UPSC Mains is evaluating the state's capacity to implement such legislation without infringing on parental autonomy, raising questions about the boundaries of the nanny state versus necessary paternalistic intervention for child protection.
Polity
Legislating screen time touches upon complex constitutional principles, particularly the intersection of the right to privacy, freedom of expression (), and the state's role as parens patriae (parent of the nation, acting to protect those unable to protect themselves). While the state has a compelling interest in child welfare, any law must pass the test of proportionality established in the . A blanket ban or overly restrictive regulation might face judicial scrutiny regarding its enforceability and potential violation of a child's right to access information (increasingly viewed as part of the Right to Education under , especially post-pandemic). Aspirants should consider the legal mechanics: education is in the Concurrent List, allowing states to legislate, but the digital domain often requires coordinated national policy under frameworks like the and the newly enacted , which includes specific provisions for children's data.