Egyptian lawmakers working to limit children’s exposure to ‘digital chaos’ of social media

By Rédaction Africanews and AP

The Egyptian Parliament says it’s working on legislation to regulate children’s exposure to what it called the “digital chaos” of social media.

On Saturday, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi urged MPs to pass a law limiting young people’s use of social media “until they reach an age when they can handle it properly.”

The president’s televised comments urged his government to look at other countries including Australia and the United Kingdom that are working on legislations to “restrict or ban” children from social media.

Legislators will consult with the government and expert bodies to draft a law to protect Egyptian children from any risks that threaten their thought and behavior, the House of Representatives said in a statement late on Sunday.

About 50 percent of children under 18 in Egypt use social media platforms where they are likely exposed to harmful content, cyberbullying and abuse, according to a 2024 report.

In December, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16. The move triggered fraught debates about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.

The British government said it will consider banning young teenagers from social media while tightening laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged his government to fast-track the legal process to ensure a social media ban for children under 15 can be enforced at the start of the next school year in September.