📱 Private Bill Seeks Social Media Ban for Sri Lankan Minors Under 16

Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha has submitted a Private Member’s Bill titled 'Social Media Minimum Age' to Parliament, aiming to restrict digital access for children to enhance child safety. • Key Legislative Proposals: • Prohibits children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. • Grants the Child Affairs Minister broad powers to block access, enforce daily usage limits, and restrict specific online hours for minors. • Appoints an Authorised Commissioner under the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to investigate complaints and enforce compliance. • Scope of the Ban: • Targets conventional social media but defines services broadly as any electronic service facilitating online interaction and content posting. • This definition could potentially sweep in digital platforms across the ICT landscape, including messaging, gaming, and content-sharing services. • National & Global Context: • The Bill aligns with a growing global push to counter cyberbullying, mental health issues, and excessive screen time. • If passed, Sri Lanka would become one of the few regional countries with statutory age restrictions, though global precedents show heavy challenges in age verification, privacy, and enforceability.