Supreme Court Recognizes Petition for Smartphone‑Free Childhood: A Historic Victory for India’s Digital Wellness Movement
Grants Liberty to ZEP Foundation—World Digital Detox Day to Approach Central Government on Mandatory Age Verification and Statutory Prohibition for Use of Social Media by Children Under 16/18 Years
New Delhi | April 10, 2025 (TGN) – In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has formally heard the writ petition filed by ZEP Foundation—World Digital Detox Day (Diary No. 8128/2025), led by Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, founder and global advocate for digital wellness and smartphone‑free childhoods. The Court has granted liberty to the Foundation to submit a detailed representation to the Central Government proposing mandatory age verification and statutory prohibition for social media use by children under 16/18 years, and has set an eight‑week timeline for the Government to take action.
A bench comprising Hon’ble Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustin George Masih also issued directives to:
1. Condone Delay – Acknowledge the petition’s importance despite procedural delays.
2. Recognize Policy Imperative – Treat child safety in digital spaces as a matter requiring urgent government policy intervention.
3. Grant Right to Representation – Allow ZEP Foundation to formally present its proposals to the Government of India and relevant authorities.
4. Set Response Timeline – Instruct authorities to consider and respond to the representation within two months.
The petition highlighted alarming gaps in self‑declared age checks and in the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2023. It urged the government to adopt enforceable, technology‑driven age‑verification standards to shield minors from harmful content and addictive platforms.
Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, Founder, World Digital Detox Day and ZEP Foundation stated:
“In today’s digital age, safeguarding our children’s mental and emotional well‑being is paramount. Implementing stringent age verification for social media access is a crucial step toward creating a safer digital environment for our youth.”
World Digital Detox Day, now a 16‑year‑old mission active in 72 countries, promotes digital wellness, digital fasting, and digital education. The organization raises global awareness of the mental, emotional, and social effects of digital overexposure—especially on children and families.
This Supreme Court direction marks a historic recognition of the need for verifiable and enforceable age‑gating mechanisms to protect minors online.
Issued by:
ZEP Foundation
Dr. Rekha Chaudhari, Founder, World Digital Detox Day
www.worlddigitaldetoxday.com
