The Sri Lankan government has begun preliminary discussions on proposals to restrict or ban social media access for children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya announced.
Addressing Parliament, the Prime Minister said the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders to examine the social, mental, and health impacts of social media use among children.
The discussions are also focusing on digital safety, online risks, and international developments related to protecting young users in the digital environment.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya said authorities are working towards preparing national guidelines on limiting social media access for children under 16, while also planning awareness programmes to protect children’s mental and physical wellbeing.
She further revealed that the Ministry has introduced a programme to help children under 18 overcome excessive mobile phone use and digital addiction, with the initiative already showing positive outcomes.
The government says the proposed measures aim to create a safer online environment for children while balancing the benefits and challenges of digital technology.
