Kohima: Prodigals' Home is backing a Supreme Court directive demanding the Centre establish a statutory framework for social media platforms. The court wants digital intermediaries to follow Indian laws regarding minors, specifically the 18-year age limit for entering contracts. The move aims to hold tech giants accountable for the safety of children.
K Ela, the director of Prodigals' Home, highlighted the dangers kids face behind screens. "Children today are spending a large part of their lives online, often without completely understanding the risks involved. We are seeing how excessive and unsupervised use of social media can make children vulnerable to grooming, sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation," Ela stated. She noted that these digital interactions can escalate into real-world trafficking and sexual abuse.
The Nagaland-based organization works with Just Rights for Children, the network that filed the petition before the court. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, issued the order on September 10. The court now requires responses from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Law and Justice. The Centre has confirmed it will investigate the matter. The petition seeks to curb rising threats like sextortion, cyberbullying, and trafficking.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 1:48pm
The Just Rights for Children network, which spearheaded the petition, operates across 782 districts. They work alongside local communities, government bodies, and law enforcement to track and stop threats to minors in the digital space.
The petition specifically challenges the current practice of allowing minors to sign binding contracts with tech companies when those agreements are technically void under existing Indian law.
Updated at 2nd October 2026 at 1:47am
The Society for Equitable Voluntary Actions (SEVA), an organization active in the Longleng and Peren districts, has officially backed the court action. SEVA General Secretary Anuradha Chatterjee echoed concerns that digital risks bleed into the real world, warning that platforms currently trap kids in legal agreements they cannot legally sign.
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