A petition has been submitted through Parliament’s electronic petition system (e-petition portal) seeking legal measures to prevent children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and to prohibit mobile phones in schools for students of all ages.
The petition raises concerns over the increasing use of mobile phones and digital devices by children to access social media. It states that many parents are unaware of the content their children are exposed to online and often lack sufficient time to monitor their activities. As a result, children are said to be accessing inappropriate and explicit material on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
The petition argues that such exposure may be contributing to behavioural and moral changes among children. It calls for amendments to existing laws to restrict children under 16 from accessing platforms including Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, certain news websites, and anonymous posting sites.
In addition, the petition proposes that if restrictions are introduced and violations occur, both children and their guardians should receive counselling or guidance. In cases of repeated violations, the matter should be referred to the relevant ministry for further action. It also seeks regulations to ban students from bringing mobile phones to schools and colleges, with strict enforcement of these rules.
Under parliamentary regulations, a petition must receive at least 500 signatures to be formally accepted for consideration unless sponsored by a Member of Parliament. As of now, 19 people have signed the petition. A six-week period has been allocated to gather the required 500 signatures.