Social media ban for children won't work in all countries: Unicef's Thomas Davin

A blanket ban on children accessing social media will not work in all countries, with the effectiveness of such a move depending on the development levels, and socio-economic realities of various economies, Unicef global innovation director Thomas Davin said.

Instead, school-age children in many developing nations, including India, need access to AI and online services for their educational and economic security, Stockholm-based Davin told ET on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit here.

Information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday that the government was discussing the feasibility of age-based restrictions with social media firms. Australia recently banned social media for children under 16 years of age. Platforms could face up to $33 million in fines for non-compliance.


Davin remains unsure whether such moves will work in India. "It is my understanding that in India, there's quite a number of children who are working after school, or are out of school and trying to find skills," he said. Even in Australia's case, Davin said Unicef hopes the law is accompanied by proactive training.

Davin also stressed on the need for accountability from Big Tech players when deploying AI systems. Without suitable guardrails, these may incentivise dangerous behaviour, he said. "Parents have the right to go under the hood of a system to see how it was built, if their child is harmed," he stressed.

Arguing that children are currently absent from global frameworks, he said Unicef has submitted a global statement on the matter, which is expected to make its way into the Delhi leaders’ declaration.

"AI is not only a tech issue; it is a societal issue. It's a bit like the debate on social media, but much broader. We didn't understand what social media will do to us, but it has affected how we consume information, the bubbles we create around us, and our ability to concentrate," he said.

As children face growing social isolation, they are increasingly turning to AI companions for interaction, a trend Unicef believes will only grow. It remains to be seen how long-term exposure to AI systems may impact a child's brain, potentially making them lazy, and creating a dangerous level of dependency, he said.