By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government has begun exploring the possibility of restricting or banning social media access for children under the age of 16, amid growing concerns over the impact of excessive online engagement on young people’s mental health, safety and overall wellbeing.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament on Wednesday (8) that the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has initiated preliminary discussions with a range of stakeholders to examine proposals aimed at regulating children’s access to social media platforms.
She said the consultations are focusing on the social, psychological and health-related effects of social media use, as well as issues of digital security and international trends in protecting children in the online environment.
According to the Prime Minister, the Government is also working to formulate national guidelines on restricting social media access for children under the age of 16. The proposed measures will be accompanied by public awareness campaigns designed to promote safer digital habits and protect the mental and physical wellbeing of children.
The initiative reflects growing global concern over the influence of social media on young users. Governments in several countries have introduced or are considering age-based restrictions, citing issues such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, screen addiction and declining mental health among adolescents.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also revealed that the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has launched a separate programme to help children under the age of 18 overcome mobile phone addiction. She said the programme has already produced encouraging results, highlighting the Government’s broader efforts to address the challenges posed by excessive digital device use among children and teenagers.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing Parliament, where she outlined the Government’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen child protection in an increasingly digital society.
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