Govt weighs tough curbs on children’s screen time

Colombo, May 5 (Daily Mirror) - The government is mulling imposing stricter regulations on children’s use of digital devices and social media amid growing concerns over exploitation, addiction, and behavioural issues linked to unsupervised access, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said.

Addressing the issue, the Minister said that authorities are currently deliberating a range of measures, including limiting mobile device usage among young children and restricting minors from accessing social media platforms.

A special committee chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has been appointed to develop policy recommendations aimed at enhancing child safety in the digital environment.

According to the Minister, proposals under consideration include banning digital screen access for children under the age of five, as well as prohibiting social media use for those under 12.