Colombo: Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, has announced that the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and the Ministry of Digital Economy are collaboratively planning a national assessment and policy review focused on the impact of social media on children. This initiative aims to address the complex challenges posed by social media usage among children by incorporating insights from various experts and stakeholders.

According to News.LK, Deputy Minister Weeraratne emphasized the necessity of involving experts across diverse fields such as child protection, education, health, mental health, cyber security, law, and research. The initiative will also consider inputs from civil society and youth to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The Deputy Minister highlighted that parents in Sri Lanka face significant challenges in managing their children’s social media use, which can affect their sleep, education, friendships, and overall mental well-being.

The Deputy Minister detailed the multifaceted nature of social media’s impact on children, pointing out both its benefits and potential harms. While social media can enhance educational opportunities and creative skills, it can also lead to unsafe online environments, exposure to inappropriate content, and cyberbullying. In some extreme cases, children’s engagement with social media has escalated to life-threatening situations.

Weeraratne stated that ensuring children’s online safety has become a national priority, aligning with global trends. The government aims to base its strategies on three core principles: prioritizing children’s safety, grounding actions in evidence and research, and minimizing excessive surveillance while safeguarding rights and privacy. The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of learning from global experiences and adapting them to the local context to develop a comprehensive program for child protection.

The proposed national assessment will involve consultations with experts and stakeholders to create a balanced approach that allows children to benefit from technology while ensuring their safety. The Deputy Minister called for a collaborative effort involving not just the government but also parents, teachers, and children to achieve this goal.