Sri Lanka mulls social media restrictions for minors

Colombo, Jan. 28 (Daily Mirror) - As outrage grows over explicit school-related content spreading unchecked online, the Government is now considering restricting social media access for underage children, raising fresh concerns over digital freedom, censorship, and who ultimately controls what Sri Lankan youth see online.

Deputy Minister of the Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said discussions are currently underway to explore the possibility of imposing restrictions on social media use by underage students and children, amid a sharp rise in incidents linked to online platforms.

He said the responsibility for deciding on such restrictions rests with the Ministry of Mass Media or the Education Ministry, adding that once a policy decision is taken, the necessary technical support would be provided to enforce it.

The renewed debate follows a controversial recent incident involving an alleged close relationship between a school’s head prefect and three female teachers, after videos linked to the matter circulated widely on social media. The Deputy Minister said the viral spread of the content had caused serious harm to the personal lives of both schoolchildren and teachers, stressing that disciplinary action should only be taken after the facts are fully established.

“We have not yet come to a final decision, but the country must move towards addressing the damage caused to the minds of underage children by social media content,” Weeraratne said.

“Social media platform operators should instruct local telecommunication companies to impose restrictions in Sri Lanka, noting that many other countries have already moved in this direction. “The technical capability already exists and can easily be applied to our country,” he said.

However, he highlighted that any move to restrict access must be taken as a formal government policy decision. While discussions have already begun, he said a comprehensive plan must be developed before any restrictions are enforced.

Globally, governments are increasingly tightening controls on children’s access to social media, citing concerns over cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and worsening mental health among minors. Although most platforms set a minimum age of 13, enforcement remains weak, prompting many countries to push for stricter age verification methods, including facial recognition and identity checks. Parental control tools are also being promoted to limit screen time and filter content.

Australia has taken the strongest stance so far, passing legislation that will ban social media access for children under 16 from December 2025. Several European countries, including France, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, are moving towards stricter age limits and mandatory parental consent, while China enforces “minor mode” restrictions that tightly control screen time and content for users under 18.

In the United States, states such as Florida have banned social media use for children under 14, while Utah now requires parental consent for minors.

Meanwhile, France's National Assembly has backed a bill that would ban social media access for under-15s, a proposal supported by President Emmanuel Macron.

As Sri Lanka considers following this global trend, the proposal is expected to spark intense debate over child protection, parental responsibility, digital rights, and whether restricting access is the solution or merely a bandage over deeper societal issues.