# Supreme Court asks Centre to examine statutory safeguards for minors on social media 2026-09-29T04:56:13+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to examine whether a statutory framework can be created to ensure social media platforms comply with Indian laws governing minors, including the bar on children under 18 entering into contracts. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard a petition by the NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, which argues that contracts minors sign when creating accounts are void under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act. The court said safeguards must be incorporated into intermediary rules, not remain voluntary guidelines. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that "something can be done, something should be done and will be done". Separately, MeitY has begun consultations to draft an SOP for reporting child sexual abuse material online, after the court gave it a last opportunity to file a compliance report. The next hearing is on October 15. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three sources report the Supreme Court's direction to the Centre uniformly, differing only in emphasis. Rediff.com highlights the legal argument that minor contracts are void under existing law, while Livemint.com frames the issue as tighter checks rather than a blanket ban. Hindustan Times adds context by reporting the government's parallel move to draft an SOP for reporting child sexual abuse material, linking the two cases. This suggests the Court is pushing for enforceable statutory rules, not voluntary guidelines. The government's response will clarify whether parental consent and age verification become mandatory for all platforms. The next hearing is on October 15. ## Coverage - rediff.com (neutral report) Leads with the legal invalidity of minor contracts under existing law, emphasising the court's push for statutory rather than voluntary rules - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Frames the story through the government's new SOP process for CSAM reporting, adding policy implementation context - livemint.com (neutral report) Focuses on what changes for platforms: age verification and parental consent, not blanket bans Tags: Indian Contract Act, Just Rights for Children Alliance, Supreme Court Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-seeks-framework-for-minors-on-social-media/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/supreme-court-seeks-framework-for-minors-on-social-media/#story-in-brief