Member of Parliament and President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha today handed over a Private Member’s Bill titled the “Social Media Minimum Age Bill” to the Secretary General of Parliament. The primary objective of this proposed legislation is to restrict children’s access to social media platforms and prevent their exposure to harmful online content and activities.
According to the Bill, the Subject Minister (the Minister of Child Affairs) will have the power to make regulations requiring internet service providers and social media platforms to prevent access by children under the age of 16. These regulations may also include limiting the amount of time per day a child can spend on these services or specifying particular hours during which they may access them.
To ensure the law is followed, an Authorized Commissioner will be appointed under the National Child Protection Authority to monitor and enforce the restrictions. The Bill defines a “child” as any person under sixteen years of age. Additionally, the legislation specifies that in case of any inconsistency between the language versions, the Sinhala text shall prevail.