Parents’ approval will be necessary… Know the government’s new plan regarding children’s social media accounts.

New Delhi: The government is going to make parental approval mandatory for children to open social media accounts. This rule is in the new draft of data protection. This draft states that companies will have to obtain parental consent before using children’s data. This approval will have to be taken before using the data. Meaning, companies cannot use or store children’s data unless they get parental consent. This draft has come under the Digital Data Protection Act, 2023. In this, it is explained about the people’s approval, the companies using the data and the way the officials work. But it does not mention what punishment will be given for breaking the rules. However, under the Act, a fine of up to Rs 250 crore can be imposed on companies misusing data. 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.”
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. Therefore the government has taken this step. According to the new rule, if a company wants to collect the data of a child under 18 years of age, it will first have to take permission from the parents. This permission can be obtained in any form, written or online, but it must be clear that the parents have given approval.

In the Data Protection Act, 2023, companies using data have been called “data fiduciaries”. These companies decide how and for what purpose the data will be used. If these companies break the rules, they may face a fine of up to Rs 250 crore. But in the new draft it is not clear what will be the punishment for other types of mistakes. More information about this will be known only after the rules are finalized. The government has asked the common people to give their opinion on the MyGov website. With this the rules can be further improved. “…the said draft rules will be considered after February 18, 2025.” That means there may still be changes in it. This is an important step for the online safety of children.