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Colombo, Nov. 4 (Daily Mirror) - Amidst increasing international discussion about restricting children's access to social media, including proposals to establish minimum age limits, Sri Lanka needs to carefully consider age-appropriate access to digital platforms.
Age restrictions may form part of the solution, but banning access alone cannot guarantee children's online safety, as children may bypass restrictions or move to less regulated platforms. Overly restrictive measures could also prevent them from accessing beneficial educational resources, health information and supportive communities, a child health expert has warned.
Commenting on the importance of protecting children in an increasingly digital world, pediatrician Dr. Maheshaka Wijayawardena told the Daily Mirror that digital technology had become an integral part of children's lives, offering valuable opportunities for education, creativity, communication and social connection through smartphones, social media, online games and artificial intelligence (AI).
However, alongside these benefits, children were increasingly exposed to risks that could affect their mental health, physical wellbeing, development and personal safety.
He stressed that online child protection should be recognised as a public health, child protection and children's rights priority in Sri Lanka.
Children may encounter cyberbullying, online harassment, inappropriate content, misinformation and online sexual exploitation. Some may also be manipulated by strangers through social media and gaming platforms, while repeated exposure to idealised images on social media could contribute to anxiety, low self-esteem and body image concerns.
Excessive or poorly managed digital use could also interfere with sleep, physical activity, schoolwork, family relationships and face-to-face interactions.
Although online games could provide entertainment, learning and opportunities for teamwork, certain features, including in-game purchases and gambling-like reward mechanisms, could expose children to financial and psychological risks.
Artificial intelligence has introduced further challenges, with children potentially receiving inaccurate health advice, disclosing personal information to AI chatbots or becoming victims of AI-generated content used for bullying and exploitation.
However, Dr. Wijayawardena pointed out that digital technology was not inherently harmful, as its impact depended on a child's age, the content accessed, the nature of online interactions and how digital activities affected everyday life.
On the growing international debate over minimum age limits for social media, he said Sri Lanka should carefully consider policies that ensure age-appropriate access to digital platforms.
He cautioned that any age-based restrictions should be evidence-based, appropriate to children's developmental stages, enforceable and respectful of privacy. Digital platforms should also be designed with children's safety in mind rather than placing the entire responsibility on parents to manage online risks.
Parents and caregivers, meanwhile, have an important role in helping children develop healthy digital habits.
He said parents should begin conversations about online friendships, experiences and potential dangers at an early age, encouraging children to speak openly without fear of being blamed or punished.
Setting reasonable limits on recreational screen time, while ensuring children have sufficient time for sleep, studies, exercise, outdoor play and family activities, was also important.
Parents should discourage late-night device use and consider keeping smartphones and other devices outside children's bedrooms at bedtime. They should also regularly review account privacy settings, parental controls, location-sharing options and in-game purchasing facilities.
Children should be taught to recognise cyberbullying, suspicious messages, inappropriate requests and attempts by strangers to gain their trust. More importantly, they should feel comfortable approaching a trusted adult whenever an online experience makes them uncomfortable or frightened.
If a child reports cyberbullying, grooming or another harmful online experience, parents should respond calmly, prioritise the child's safety and seek appropriate assistance. Blaming or automatically punishing children could discourage them from reporting similar incidents in the future.
Dr. Wijayawardena stressed that responsibility for online safety should not rest solely with children and their families, adding that schools, healthcare professionals and technology companies also had important roles to play.
Schools should introduce age-appropriate digital literacy education to help children identify misinformation, protect personal information, respect others online and use AI responsibly.
Healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians, should also consider digital wellbeing when assessing children's sleep, behaviour, emotional health and development. Children experiencing significant distress, problematic digital use or online abuse should receive appropriate support and referrals.
Technology companies, meanwhile, should take greater responsibility for creating safer online environments through stronger privacy protections, effective reporting mechanisms, restrictions on unsolicited contact from unknown adults, appropriate content moderation and safeguards against features that encourage excessive engagement.
Children's personal information should not be exploited for targeted advertising or inappropriate profiling, he said.
He also called for a coordinated national strategy involving the Ministries of Health and Education, child protection authorities, law enforcement agencies, digital regulators and other relevant stakeholders.
Such a strategy should include parent education, professional training, effective reporting systems and research into the online experiences and health outcomes of Sri Lankan children.
Emphasising the need to strike a balance between protecting children and allowing them to benefit from technology, Dr. Wijayawardena said online safety was not simply about reducing screen time or keeping children away from digital platforms, but ensuring they could participate in the digital world without being exposed to preventable harm.
Parents should guide rather than simply police their children's online activities, while schools should educate rather than merely prohibit access to technology. Healthcare professionals should identify problems early and provide support, while governments must establish appropriate safeguards and technology companies should be held accountable for the digital environments they create.
Every child deserves a digital environment that supports learning, creativity, healthy relationships and emotional wellbeing. Protecting children online, he emphasised, is a shared responsibility, and their safety must always come before commercial interests or technological convenience.
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