RGV Slams Social Media Ban for Under-16s; Warns of Global Competitive Inequality!

Maverick director Ram Gopal Varma has voiced a strong critique against the trend of banning social media for children under 16, specifically citing countries like Australia. Using the slogan "BAN THE BANNERS," RGV argued that such restrictions, though framed as "protection," are actually handicapping the younger generation in a hyper-competitive global economy. RGV highlighted:  He argued that social media is a primary pipeline for real-time knowledge and skills. Platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok serve as informal classrooms for coding, entrepreneurship, and global trends. Children in non-banning countries will gain an "information advantage," mastering digital flows and building social capital early, while kids in restricted countries will fall structurally behind. RGV stated that the "offensive content" excuse is real but pales in comparison to the systemic cost of cutting off a child's access to the modern world's tools. He warned that trading long-term capability for short-term safety procedures would create a generation of "digital latecomers."