Children under the age of 13 could need verified parental consent to create accounts on social media and online gaming platforms if a proposed bill in Parliament becomes law.
The Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (SHIELD) Bill, 2025 also seeks stronger protections for children online. These include mandatory age verification, parental controls and restrictions on personalised advertising aimed at minors.
The private member’s bill was proposed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. It was scheduled for introduction in Parliament on Friday but could not be taken up because of adjournments.
Importantly, the proposal is not a law at present. Private members’ bills rarely become law, so the provisions would need to pass through the parliamentary process before they could take effect.
What does the SHIELD Bill propose?
The proposed legislation defines a child as a person below the age of 18. It seeks to place specific safety responsibilities on social media platforms, online gaming services and other digital intermediaries.
One of its key proposals concerns children below 13. Platforms could be required to obtain verified parental consent before allowing them to create accounts.
The bill also proposes mandatory age-verification systems for online services that are accessible to minors.
Parents could get greater control
The proposed legislation includes parental-control dashboards that could give parents or guardians tools to manage a child’s online activity.
These tools could include options to:
- Monitor online activity
- Manage privacy settings
- Restrict screen time
- Control access to certain services
The aim is to give families greater control over children’s digital experiences while encouraging safer use of online platforms.
Restrictions on personalised advertising
The SHIELD Bill also proposes restrictions on how platforms can use children’s data.
Under the proposal, platforms could be prohibited from tracking, profiling or targeting children with personalised advertising.
This could significantly change how social media and other digital services interact with younger users.
Protection from harmful online content
The proposed bill also seeks measures to protect children from potentially harmful content.
Platforms would be expected to take steps to prevent minors from being exposed to:
- Pornographic content
- Gambling and simulated betting
- Violent or extremist material
- Drug-related content
The provisions would apply to social media services, online gaming platforms and other digital intermediaries covered by the proposed legislation.
Penalties for platforms
The bill proposes penalties of up to ₹10 crore for platforms that violate its provisions.
Repeated or wilful violations could carry additional consequences. These may include temporary suspension or blocking of services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The proposed penalties are intended to encourage digital platforms to strengthen their systems for protecting children online.
Private member’s bill: What happens next?
The SHIELD Bill is a private member’s bill, meaning it was introduced by a member of Parliament who is not a minister.
Such bills can be debated and considered by Parliament, but relatively few private members’ bills have become law since Independence.
The bill’s proposals, therefore, do not currently impose new restrictions on children or social media companies.
If the proposal moves forward, its provisions would be subject to parliamentary debate and the legislative process.
The proposed SHIELD Bill comes amid growing concerns about children’s exposure to harmful online content, excessive screen use, data collection and targeted advertising. Its focus is on creating stronger safeguards for young users while giving parents more tools to manage their children’s online experiences.
