Thursday Jun 25, 2026
Thursday Jun 25, 2026
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Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha
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Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha, PC yesterday handed over a Private Member’s Bill titled ‘Social Media Minimum Age’ to the Secretary General of Parliament.
The Bill seeks to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms in Sri Lanka, while granting the Child Affairs Minister extensive powers to regulate online access, including imposing daily usage limits and restricting the hours during which minors can use internet services.
The primary objective of this proposed legislation is to shield children from harmful online content and activities by requiring internet service providers and social media platforms to prevent access by users under 16 years of age.
In addition, the Bill introduces broad regulatory powers that could significantly reshape how young Sri Lankans access digital platforms.
Under the proposed law, the Child Affairs Minister would be empowered to issue regulations compelling service providers to block access to designated internet services and social media platforms for children under 16 years old. The Minister could also determine how long minors are permitted to use certain online services and even prescribe the times of day when access is allowed.
The legislation envisages the appointment of an Authorised Commissioner under the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) with extensive oversight powers. The Commissioner would be authorised to receive complaints, conduct investigations, demand information and documents, issue directions, and undertake inspections to ensure compliance.
The Bill’s scope extends beyond conventional social media platforms.
Its definition of social media services includes any electronic service of which the primary or significant purpose is to facilitate online interaction between users and enable the posting of content. Such wording could potentially capture a wide range of platforms, including messaging, community, gaming, and content-sharing services depending on how regulations are drafted.
The proposal comes amid a growing international movement to tighten social media access for minors, driven by concerns over cyberbullying, mental health impacts, online exploitation, harmful content, and excessive screen time.
However, countries attempting similar restrictions have often faced significant practical and legal challenges, particularly around age verification, privacy concerns, freedom of expression, and enforceability.
If the Bill gets approved by Parliament, Sri Lanka could become one of the few countries in the region to impose statutory age-based restrictions on social media.
