BJP MP's Social Media Shield Bill for Children Faces Another Parliamentary Hurdle
Kendrapada BJP MP Baijayant Panda's renewed effort to introduce a private member's Bill designed to regulate children's access to social media platforms was thwarted on Friday. The legislative attempt collapsed after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day due to persistent disruptions by opposition members, marking another significant delay for the proposed child protection measure.
The SHIELD Bill: A Proposed Digital Safeguard
Panda's proposed legislation, officially titled the Safeguarding Healthy Environments for Little Digital Natives (SHIELD) Bill, 2025, had been listed for introduction in the House for nearly three months. It was specifically scheduled to be taken up on Friday before parliamentary proceedings were halted. The Bill aims to establish regulated and restricted access to the internet and social media platforms for children below the age of 16.
MP Baijayant Panda has described this initiative as a necessary step to protect young, developing minds from the potential harms of unmonitored digital exposure. The timing of this motion carries added weight following the tragic alleged suicide of three minor girls in Ghaziabad. Preliminary allegations in that case have pointed to the possible influence of online gaming and social media platforms, highlighting the urgent need for protective frameworks.
A History of Parliamentary Obstacles
This recent adjournment represents not the first time the Kendrapada MP has been unable to advance this Bill. During the winter session of Parliament, the designated day for private members' business was also lost due to repeated disruptions within the House. These consistent parliamentary hurdles have stalled a legislative conversation that is gaining global momentum.
Internationally, similar regulatory measures have already been enacted in countries like Australia, while several other nations are actively debating and formulating curbs on minors' access to social media. Within India, there is a growing chorus of demand from activists, child welfare organizations, and parents' groups for concrete regulation. This demand is fueled by an increasing number of documented cases that illustrate the adverse, and sometimes life-disrupting, impact of unregulated digital platforms on children's mental health and well-being.
Frustration Over "Mindless Disruptions"
Expressing clear frustration over the repeated adjournments, MP Baijayant Panda criticized what he termed "mindless disruptions" by the Opposition. He pointed out the paradoxical nature of the situation, noting that the government typically has no direct role in the progression of private members' Bills.
"It is bizarre behaviour, especially since the govt has no role in private members' Bills. Ironically, many Opposition MPs themselves seek to introduce such Bills on issues they want to raise," Panda stated, underscoring the counterproductive nature of the disruptions that affect legislation from all sides of the political aisle.
The repeated stalling of the SHIELD Bill underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing digital safety through legislative means in India's often tumultuous parliamentary environment. It leaves a critical discussion about child protection in the digital age in a state of limbo, awaiting a window of functional parliamentary procedure for debate and consideration.
