Pilot Programme to Reduce Social Media Use Among Children Shows Positive Results, Prime Minister Says

The pilot project introduced to reduce social media usage among children below the age of 16 has shown positive results, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament today (08).

The Prime Minister made the remarks in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Harshana Rajakaruna regarding measures taken to address excessive social media use among children.

She said steps have been taken to prepare a national guideline framework aimed at minimizing social media usage among children under 16, while a nationwide awareness programme based on the concept of “Brain Health” is also being implemented to promote children’s mental well-being.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya further stated that the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has launched a pilot family empowerment programme to help families with children under the age of 18 manage excessive mobile phone usage among children. She noted that encouraging results have been reported through these initiatives.

Emphasizing that the issue requires government attention, the Prime Minister said it cannot be addressed through a single solution.

“We are considering a range of measures, not merely a ban on social media. Discussions are currently underway to identify the most suitable approaches for Sri Lanka, including introducing guidance on social media usage and ‘Digital Health’ within the education system and other relevant sectors. We intend to submit these proposals to the Cabinet within this year,” she said.