A legal notice has been served seeking a ban on the use of social media by children and adolescents under the age of 16, along with effective measures to prevent misuse and strengthen regulatory control.
The notice was sent by Barrister Sanaullah Noori on behalf of the Legal Voice Foundation to the secretaries of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Information and Communication Technology Division, as well as the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Thursday.
According to the notice, the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube is taking an “alarmingly negative direction,” with children and adolescents increasingly misusing these platforms.
It said social media-driven violence and addiction have become widespread, causing children to lose interest in sports and suffer physical and mental health problems.
The notice further said the spread of misinformation, propaganda and easy access to pornographic content are having a serious negative impact on the minds and intellect of children and adolescents.
As a result, many are becoming inattentive to their studies and reluctant to attend school and college, leading to a decline in moral values, it added.
The notice also claimed that children and adolescents are becoming involved in various criminal activities, including group-based offences, due to the misuse of digital media.
It alleged that addiction to pornography and online games is pushing many away from moral education and towards criminal behaviour, often beyond the control of guardians.
The notice added that many parents and guardians lack adequate knowledge about digital platforms and are therefore unable to effectively monitor or control misuse.
It called on the authorities concerned to establish effective control over social media and take practical steps to prevent misuse within 15 days of receiving the notice.
