In the digital age, children are growing up in an environment fundamentally different from that of their parents. While social media platforms offer opportunities for learning, creativity, and social connection, they also expose children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, online predators, and unhealthy patterns of screen use.
In response to these concerns, governments around the world are increasingly considering legislation to restrict children’s access to social media. While such measures are well-intentioned, designing effective legislation is far more complex, and poorly designed laws can have far-reaching consequences.
Addressing this issue in an article published in the Daily FT on 30 June 2026, Attorney-at-Law and LIRNEasia Researcher Sachini Ranasinghe examines the Private Member’s Bill proposed by Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha, which seeks to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16 in Sri Lanka. She argues that the key question is not whether children need stronger protection online, but whether Sri Lanka is proposing the right solution and has undertaken the groundwork necessary to make such legislation effective.
Sachini highlights that the proposed Bill appears to have borrowed only part of Australia’s social media age restriction model. While it adopts the broad legislative language, it omits the accompanying safeguards, leaving significant uncertainty around how the law would be implemented.
Drawing on key issues arising from Sri Lanka’s past experience of borrowing legislative models from other countries, she urges policymakers to address several critical questions before introducing such restrictions. She also emphasizes that, if Sri Lanka intends to pursue similar legislation to Australia, it should be preceded by rigorous research, meaningful public consultation, and a clear assessment of the risks and practical implications within the local context.
