LONDON: Indian parents strongly support a social media ban for under-16s, ranking second behind Malaysia at 75%, according to new global research released by British education charity Varkey Foundation on Tuesday.
The foundation’s Families First analysis follows Australia’s recent ban on social media use by under-16s, and other countries exploring similar measures.
In India, a majority of Gen Z respondents also support such a ban – the highest level of support of any country surveyed.
This is especially noteworthy as they are the first generation to grow up with social media, the study highlights.
Sunny Varkey, founder of Family First and the Varkey Foundation, said: “This research highlights the increasing tensions many families are experiencing in the digital age.”
“Parents around the world are increasingly concerned about the impact social media can have on their children. Our goal at Families First is not just to debate a ban, but to start a wider conversation about how technology shapes family relationships and the values young people grow up with,” he said.
Research agency We Are Family was commissioned to interview more than 6,000 parents, more than 6,000 children aged 9 to 18, 3,000 grandparents and 3,000 Gen Z participants in January and February 2026.
Countries participating in the study include India, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
While Malaysia, India and France top the social media ban rankings, support for the move is lowest in Japan, followed by Nigeria and the United States. Australia is the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s, with 66 per cent of parents supporting the measures.
Families First data reveals divisions between parents and children around the world, although India bucks the trend. Globally, only 37% of under-18s support a ban, a 23-point gap with their parents. Australia, Sweden and Canada have the largest generation gaps.
Support for the ban is highest among young people in Malaysia, India and China, while support for the ban is lowest among young people in Japan, Argentina and Sweden.
The study also shows that among Generation Z, the “digital natives” born between 1997 and 2012, India’s support for a ban on social media for teenagers under 16 years old is the highest in the world, well above the 51% average. The second highest ranking is the United Arab Emirates, followed by Malaysia, and the lowest are Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
