AP Plans Under-16 Social Media Ban to Protect Youth
The Andhra Pradesh government is considering a landmark policy to ban social media usage for children under the age of 16. Education Minister Nara Lokesh chaired a high-level meeting with NDA partners to discuss the proposal. The move aims to combat cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, and the decline in physical activity among teenagers. The government plans to establish a “State Social Coordination Cell” to monitor digital spaces and work with the Centre to block harmful content effectively.
In another major development, the state cabinet met in Amaravati to approve an official study tour for Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana. He will visit the United Kingdom and Qatar from February 2 to February 5 to study international best practices for the proposed “Amaravati Sports City.” The goal is to integrate global standards into the capital’s infrastructure, ensuring it becomes a hub for international sporting events and advanced urban planning.
The political atmosphere heated up as YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on the TDP-led coalition. Speaking to party representatives in Tadepalli, Jagan alleged that the state has entered a phase of “Jungle Raj,” characterized by lawlessness and the dilution of welfare schemes. He accused the government of institutional collapse and arbitrary arrests of opposition workers, signaling a more aggressive stance from the YSRCP in the coming budget session.
Meanwhile, the Congress party, led by APCC President Y.S. Sharmila, kicked off the “Gandhi Sandesha Yatra” on Wednesday. This three-day protest, spearheaded by senior leader Raghuveera Reddy, focuses on the Central Government’s decision to modify the MGNREGA scheme. Sharmila confirmed that Rahul Gandhi will soon join the agitation at Bandlapalli to demand the reinstatement of the rural employment guarantee in its original form.
Lastly, the state cabinet expressed deep condolences over the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu led a two-minute silence, describing Pawar as a dedicated leader and recalling their long-standing professional acquaintance. This comes amid a busy day where Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also held key discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi regarding pending state issues.
