The government has intensified its focus on protecting children from cyber threats, online violence, and harms to their wellbeing, with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya chairing a special discussion in Parliament on the implementation of a comprehensive national program.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting, organized with the participation of a multi‑disciplinary working group of the Digital Education Task Force, examined regulatory and educational solutions to safeguard children while ensuring they continue to benefit from digital participation.
Officials noted that several countries are debating age restrictions on social media access, but highlighted studies showing that bans alone may be ineffective, with 85% of children in one country continuing to use platforms through other means. Risks such as lost learning opportunities, increased reliance on unsafe platforms, and privacy concerns were also discussed.
The discussion emphasized adopting a “smart mix” of strategies to address harms including grooming, exploitation, harmful content exposure, sleep disruption, compulsive online behavior, and impacts on mental wellbeing.
Proposed measures include boosting digital literacy, empowering parents and children, holding online platforms accountable, disabling addictive features, and embedding Safety‑by‑Design principles.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to an evidence‑informed approach and cross‑ministerial cooperation.
In line with this process, draft school‑level guidelines on online safety, cybersecurity, and digital wellbeing were presented, developed using international frameworks and national resources.
Following approval of the finalised guidelines by the appropriate bodies, they will be made available to schools nationwide with accompanying training and orientation for their implementation. (Newswire)
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