Social media giants to be invited to discuss digital safety measures at AP ministers' meet

Amaravati: In a decisive move to address growing concerns over online safety, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has announced that major global social media platforms will be invited to the next meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Social Media to deliberate on making digital platforms safer, especially for women and children.

‘Social media harming daily lives’

Chairing the GoM meeting, Minister for Education, IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, said that trust in social media platforms is steadily eroding, with children increasingly slipping into excessive and addictive usage that is adversely impacting their education and attention spans, while women continue to face relentless online abuse and harassment.

“This situation cannot be ignored any longer,” the Minister asserted, underlining the government’s commitment to proactive and responsible digital governance.

Focus on age-appropriate access to social media

As part of the roadmap outlined by the GoM, the Andhra Pradesh Government has ordered a comprehensive study of existing legal frameworks, with a special focus on age-appropriate access to social media platforms. The study will include a detailed, country-wise analysis of global best practices adopted across multiple jurisdictions.

In a key step towards collaborative regulation, representatives of leading social media and technology companies, including Meta, X, Google and ShareChat, will be invited to participate in the upcoming GoM meeting.

Safer and responsible digital ecosystem

The engagement will focus on platform accountability, safeguards for minors, mechanisms to curb online abuse and evolving international norms in digital governance.

The Andhra Pradesh Government reiterated that the objective is not restrictive regulation, but the creation of a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem. The roadmap emphasises protecting children from harmful and addictive online content, ensuring dignity and safety for women and restoring public trust in social media platforms.

The government said that the findings of the legal and comparative studies, along with consultations with global platforms, will guide policy decisions, ensuring a balanced approach that promotes innovation while safeguarding social well-being and public interest.