Sri Lanka, Jan. 29 -- The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs says the government is prioritising the creation of a safe and child-friendly online environment, while clarifying that no immediate decision has been taken to ban social media or smart device use for children under the age of 12.

Responding to public discussion and media reports around possible restrictions, ministry officials said current efforts are focused on regulation, safe browsing, and child protection mechanisms. However, they noted that policy options; including stricter limitations remain under consideration as part of a broader review process.

When asked about proposals to restrict smartphone use among young children, officials explained that an outright ban is no...