Can Children Under 18 Independently Create And Use Social Media Accounts?

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking safeguards, including firewalls, to protect children from online exploitation and other digital risks. Filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, the plea highlights a legal gap: minors cannot independently enter into contracts under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, yet children routinely accept digital Terms of Service and create accounts using only a self-declared date of birth. The PIL flags risks including online grooming, sexual exploitation, digital trafficking, data misuse, cyberbullying and age -inappropriate content. The petition does not seek to keep children off the internet. It calls for a 'prevention by design' approach - building child safety into digital platforms before harm occurs.