A petition has been submitted to Parliament seeking legal measures to prevent children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and to ban the use of mobile phones in schools for students of all ages.

The petition was filed through Parliament’s electronic petition system (e-petition portal).

In the petition, concerns were raised over the growing use of mobile phones and other digital devices by children to access social media. It states that parents are often unaware of what their children are viewing online and may not have sufficient time to monitor their activities. As a result, children are said to be exposed to inappropriate content on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

The petition further notes that exposure to age-inappropriate and explicit material on social media may be contributing to behavioural and moral changes among children. It calls for amendments to existing laws to prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms such as Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok, as well as certain news websites and anonymous posting sites.

In addition, the petition proposes that if restrictions are introduced and children are found violating them, both the children and their guardians should be provided with counselling or guidance. In cases of repeated violations, it suggests that the matter be referred to the relevant ministry for further action. The petition also calls for regulations to prohibit students from bringing mobile phones to schools and colleges, and for strict enforcement of such rules.

Under parliamentary regulations, a petition must receive at least 500 signatures to be formally accepted for consideration, unless it is sponsored by a Member of Parliament. As of now, 19 people have signed the petition. A period of six weeks has been allocated to gather the required 500 signatures.