AGE RESTRICTION AND CHILD SAFETY POLICY
Effective Date: 16/05/2026
Last Updated: 16/05/2026
The Company ARCHA MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED is incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 and operates a digital news media platform through its website and mobile application. The Platform is operated under the trademark “NEWS NEXT”, which is legally owned by the Company through a valid Assignment Deed transferring full rights, title, and interest.
This Age Restriction and Child Safety Policy (“Policy”) is adopted, implemented, maintained, and enforced by ARCHA MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED , the Platform is operated under the trademark “NEWS NEXT”, which is legally owned by the Company through a valid Assignment Deed transferring full rights, title, and interest. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”, “Platform”, “Website”, “We”, “Us”, or “Our”) for the purpose of establishing lawful, transparent, safe, responsible, and compliant standards governing access to, use of, interaction with, publication through, and participation in the Platform by minors, children, adolescents, guardians, parents, users, contributors, advertisers, and third parties.
This Policy is intended to promote child safety, responsible journalism, digital well-being, lawful data processing, content moderation, protection of minors, prevention of exploitation, prevention of harmful interactions, and compliance with applicable child protection laws, privacy laws, intermediary regulations, cybersecurity obligations, media ethics standards, and digital safety requirements.
This Policy shall be read together with the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Community Guidelines, Content Moderation Policy, Advertisement and Sponsored Content Policy, Intellectual Property Policy, and all other legal policies published by the Company.
This Policy is intended to comply with applicable laws including but not limited to the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), the Juvenile Justice Act, intermediary regulations, consumer protection laws, cybercrime laws, child safety standards, and applicable international child protection and online safety frameworks wherever applicable.
- PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
The purpose of this Policy is to establish clear standards relating to age restrictions, child safety obligations, protection of minors, responsible digital engagement, parental awareness, content safeguards, reporting procedures, moderation standards, and lawful handling of information relating to children and minors.
The Company recognizes the importance of protecting minors from harmful content, exploitation, cyberbullying, harassment, grooming, privacy violations, unlawful advertising, misinformation, and unsafe digital interactions.
The Company further recognizes that media platforms may publish content involving sensitive topics including crime, violence, disasters, political conflict, social issues, public controversies, and current affairs which may not always be suitable for all age groups.
Accordingly, this Policy seeks to balance journalistic freedom, public interest reporting, child protection obligations, user safety, legal compliance, and responsible media practices.
- APPLICABILITY
This Policy shall apply to:
All users accessing the Platform;
Registered users and subscribers;
Minors and children accessing the Platform;
Parents and guardians;
Contributors and journalists;
Advertisers and sponsors;
Comment section participants;
User-generated content submissions;
Interactive platform features;
Multimedia and livestream services;
Social media integrations;
Third-party service providers.
This Policy shall apply across websites, mobile applications, newsletters, podcasts, video services, comment forums, social media pages, digital publications, and all associated technological systems operated by the Company.
- DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Policy, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meanings assigned below.
The term “Child” or “Minor” shall mean any person below the age prescribed under applicable law.
The term “Guardian” shall mean a parent, lawful guardian, or legally authorized representative responsible for supervision of a minor.
The term “Sensitive Content” shall mean content involving violence, abuse, explicit language, disturbing imagery, criminal conduct, political extremism, self-harm references, graphic reporting, or other material potentially unsuitable for minors.
The term “User-Generated Content” shall mean any comment, submission, upload, communication, post, media file, or interactive content submitted by users through the Platform.
The term “Child Safety” shall mean measures intended to protect minors from exploitation, abuse, cyber bullying, grooming, harassment, unlawful surveillance, harmful content, privacy violations, or unsafe online interactions.
- AGE RESTRICTIONS
The Platform is intended primarily for general audiences unless specific services, sections, or features expressly state otherwise.
Users below the age prescribed under applicable law should access the Platform only under parental or guardian supervision wherever legally or reasonably necessary.
Certain sections, features, advertisements, comment forums, multimedia content, investigative reports, or interactive functionalities may contain mature themes, sensitive reporting, or content not suitable for minors.
The Company reserves the right to restrict, suspend, limit, age-gate, moderate, or disable access to specific content, services, or features based on age-related considerations, legal obligations, editorial standards, or safety concerns.
Users represent and warrant that any information provided regarding age is accurate and lawful.
- CHILD SAFETY COMMITMENT
The Company is committed to taking commercially reasonable measures to promote child safety and reduce risks associated with online exploitation, cyber bullying, harassment, grooming, predatory conduct, harmful interactions, and unlawful activities involving minors.
The Company does not knowingly permit unlawful exploitation, abuse, endangerment, sexualization, trafficking, or harmful targeting of minors through the Platform.
The Company may implement moderation systems, reporting mechanisms, safety reviews, content controls, automated detection technologies, account restrictions, or investigative measures intended to support child safety objectives.
- PROHIBITED CONTENT RELATING TO MINORS
The following activities and content are strictly prohibited:
Child sexual abuse material;
Sexual exploitation of minors;
Grooming behaviour;
Harassment of minors;
Cyber bullying targeting children;
Publication of explicit content involving minors;
Sharing private information of minors without authorization;
Harmful challenges targeting minors;
Predatory interactions;
Human trafficking content involving minors;
Exploitative advertising directed at children;
Manipulative or deceptive targeting of minors;
Violent exploitation involving minors;
Deep fake or manipulated imagery involving minors;
Encouragement of self-harm involving minors;
Illegal surveillance of children;
Unlawful collection of children’s personal information.
The Company reserves the right to remove, restrict, preserve, investigate, report, or escalate such content to law enforcement authorities, regulators, or child protection agencies.
- PARENTAL AND GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents and guardians are encouraged to supervise minors while accessing digital media platforms and online content.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to educate minors regarding safe internet practices, responsible digital conduct, privacy awareness, cyber safety, and reporting mechanisms.
The Company does not guarantee constant monitoring of all content, communications, or interactions occurring through the Platform.
Parents and guardians acknowledge that internet-based media services may expose minors to evolving news events, public discussions, multimedia reporting, advertisements, and third-party content.
- DATA COLLECTION RELATING TO MINORS
The Company does not knowingly collect, solicit, process, or retain personal data relating to minors in violation of applicable laws.
Where consent is legally required for processing children’s data, such consent may be sought from lawful parents or guardians in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
If the Company becomes aware that information relating to minors has been collected unlawfully, commercially reasonable efforts may be undertaken to delete, restrict, anonymize, or secure such information.
The Company may implement age verification mechanisms, consent systems, account restrictions, moderation tools, or safety controls where reasonably necessary.
- CONTENT MODERATION
The Company reserves the right to moderate, review, restrict, remove, age-classify, disable, preserve, investigate, or report content that may endanger minors or violate child safety obligations.
Moderation measures may include:
Automated detection systems;
Human moderation;
Community reporting mechanisms;
Account suspension;
Comment disabling;
Content warnings;
Age restrictions;
Referral to law enforcement authorities.
The Company reserves discretion regarding moderation standards, investigative procedures, enforcement priorities, and operational implementation.
- REPORTING CHILD SAFETY CONCERNS
Users may report suspected child safety violations, harmful conduct, exploitative content, unlawful interactions, or safety concerns through designated reporting channels provided by the Company.
Reports may include concerns relating to:
Exploitative material;
Cyber bullying;
Grooming;
Harmful interactions;
Privacy violations involving minors;
Threats to child safety;
Predatory behaviour;
Illegal content.
The Company may cooperate with law enforcement authorities, child protection agencies, regulators, cyber security agencies, and judicial authorities regarding child safety investigations.
- THIRD-PARTY SERVICES
The Platform may include third-party advertisements, embedded media, external links, social media integrations, plugins, or third-party services.
The Company does not control the operational practices, privacy standards, moderation systems, or child safety practices of independent third-party providers.
Users and guardians are encouraged to review third-party privacy policies, safety standards, and age restrictions independently.
The Company shall not be liable for child safety risks arising from independent third-party services or external websites.
- EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING
The Platform may publish news reports, investigations, educational content, public interest journalism, crime reporting, or social awareness content relating to issues affecting children and minors.
The Company endeavors to handle reporting involving minors responsibly and in accordance with applicable journalistic ethics, legal restrictions, privacy protections, and public interest considerations.
The Company reserves editorial discretion regarding publication decisions, redaction procedures, and public interest reporting standards.
- LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company shall not be liable for actions, omissions, interactions, conduct, communications, content exposure, third-party behaviour, cyber risks, technological failures, or unlawful activities committed by users, advertisers, contributors, external entities, or independent third parties.
The Company does not guarantee that all content shall always be suitable for minors or that all harmful material can be immediately detected, prevented, removed, or moderated.
Users, parents, and guardians acknowledge that internet-based platforms inherently involve risks associated with evolving technologies, user-generated content, third-party interactions, cyber security threats, and public communications.
- POLICY VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
Violation of this Policy may result in:
Removal of content;
Account suspension;
Restriction of access;
Permanent bans;
Reporting to law enforcement authorities;
Preservation of evidence;
Civil proceedings;
Criminal complaints;
Regulatory reporting.
The Company reserves all legal rights and remedies available under applicable law.
- GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.
Any disputes arising out of or relating to age restrictions, child safety obligations, content moderation, user conduct, or safety-related matters shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts located at [Insert Jurisdiction], India.
Nothing contained herein shall limit the Company’s right to seek emergency relief, injunctive protection, preservation orders, or cooperation with competent authorities.
- POLICY MODIFICATIONS
The Company reserves the right to amend, revise, modify, replace, suspend, or discontinue this Policy at any time without prior notice unless otherwise required under applicable law.
Updated versions shall become effective immediately upon publication on the Platform.
Users are encouraged to periodically review this Policy for updates.
- CONTACT DETAILS
For child safety concerns, reporting requests, legal notices, parental inquiries, or policy-related communications, users may contact:
Child Safety Officer / Grievance Officer
Arun
Archa Media Private Limited
Door No:2/19(6),Kanchan complex.NH 66,Giliyar Village,Kota Post,Brahmavara -TQ,Udupi-Dist,Karnataka-576221
Email:newsnextdotlive@gmail.com
Contact Number: 7975523349
The Company shall endeavor to review lawful reports and child safety concerns within reasonable operational timelines.
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By accessing, using, interacting with, contributing to, or otherwise engaging with the Platform, users acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to this Age Restriction and Child Safety Policy and agree to comply with all safety obligations, restrictions, and legal requirements described herein.
