CAIRO – In a move echoing international trends, Egypt’s Parliament is evaluating measures to regulate children’s engagement with social media. The initiative is part of an effort to curb what lawmakers describe as “digital chaos,” a concern that has prompted similar discussions in several Western nations contemplating restrictions on young teenagers’ social media access.

In a statement released late on Sunday, the House of Representatives announced its intentions to draft legislation aimed at managing children’s use of social media platforms. The goal is to address the detrimental effects of this digital upheaval on the youth’s future prospects, according to the statement.

To ensure a comprehensive approach, legislators plan to collaborate with government bodies and field experts in drafting a law. This prospective legislation is intended to safeguard Egyptian children from influences that could potentially harm their thoughts and behavior.

The parliamentary announcement follows a call to action from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. On Saturday, during a televised address, the president urged lawmakers and his administration to consider legal measures that would limit children’s access to social media until they reach a maturity level sufficient to handle these platforms responsibly.

President el-Sissi cited countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, which are currently exploring or implementing laws to restrict or even prohibit children’s use of social media, as models for Egypt to consider. His call underscores a growing international dialogue about the appropriate digital environment for young users.

About 50% 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 by the National Center for Social and Criminological Research, a government-linked think tank.

In December, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children younger than 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.