CM's big move: No whatsApp, instagram for kids under 16

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed concern over the increasing use of mobile phones and social media among children, making a significant announcement. Presenting the budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on Friday, the Chief Minister said the state government will take steps to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16.

In a budget of approximately ₹4.48 lakh crore, the government has announced several new initiatives related to education and digital safety. The Chief Minister said these steps are being taken to protect children from online dangers and reduce the harmful effects of mobile phones.

Emphasizing children's online safety, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that excessive use of mobile phones and social media at a young age is affecting children's mental and physical development. Therefore, a proposal is being prepared to ban social media use for children under 16. If implemented, Karnataka could become the first state in the country to take such a step.

AI-based learning system for students

The state government has also announced the launch of an artificial intelligence-based learning system to promote the use of technology in education. This system will be developed for students in grades 8 to 12 and will be developed in collaboration with IIT Dharwad.

This personalized digital tutoring program is expected to benefit approximately 1.22 million students in the state. The project will cost approximately ₹5 crore.

To promote engineering education, the government has announced a grant of ₹500 crore to develop the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) in Bengaluru on the lines of an IIT. Of this, ₹100 crore will be released in the current year. Furthermore, the state government has approved the recruitment of 2,000 new teachers for degree colleges, polytechnics, and engineering colleges. The government says that these decisions will not only integrate students' education with modern technology but also protect them from the potential dangers of the digital world.