Sun, 18 October 2026
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Sun, 18 October 2026
Children are among the most vulnerable members of society. They learn quickly, but exposure to disturbing media content can affect their mental and emotional well-being. In an increasingly digital world, access to online information is unavoidable. However, children's addiction to harmful posts and videos must be controlled. Children's safety must not end at the boundaries of their homes, schools and communities but also extend to the increasing access to the digital world. During floods, landslides and other disasters, social media becomes an important source of information. Such information shared online can help alert the public but extensive exchange of graphic footage showing deaths, people being swept away by floodwaters and destroyed homes raises serious concerns about children's exposure to distressing materials.
A child in Kathmandu reportedly became frightened and cried after repeatedly watching flood-related videos on a parent's mobile phone. Such incidents should prompt greater attention to how children encounter disaster-related content online, particularly when they have limited ability to understand or process what they are seeing. The responsibility for addressing this problem cannot rest solely with parents. Although parental supervision, screen-time management and digital literacy are important, families cannot monitor every piece of content that appears on a screen. Social media companies must also take responsibility for how their platforms distribute sensitive material, particularly to younger users.
Nepal can also learn from other countries regarding the regulation of social media use among children. For example, Australia does not allow children under 16 to have social media accounts. Similarly, Denmark has also announced an agreement to introduce an age limit for certain platforms. These kinds of legal decisions can protect children from growing exposure to risk-related social media. However, age restrictions alone cannot address the problem. Nepal government should also study and take a cue from these instances. Rather than slapping a blanket ban without considering the country’s situation, the country should do some homework on how and which sites need to be monitored. Because social media cannot be blamed alone for creating distress but they can also use digital platforms to learn, communicate, access public information and understand events affecting their communities. Any restriction must therefore be balanced, enforceable and designed to protect children's interests without unnecessarily limiting their access to information.
The immediate priority should be to make online spaces safer for children. Social media companies should build better systems to identify and limit graphic content, stop repeatedly showing harmful videos to young users and act quickly on reports. Content about disaster victims should be treated with particular sensitivity, respecting the dignity and privacy of those affected, while allowing for responsible journalism and legitimate reporting in the public interest. The government must also clarify the responsibilities of relevant agencies and platforms, strengthen the implementation of existing child online safety guidelines and establish accessible mechanisms for reporting harmful material. The National Telecommunications Authority, the National Cyber Security Centre, child-rights organisations, schools and parents should work together to improve digital safety and public awareness. At the same time, children need guidance on how to respond when they encounter disturbing material. Parents and teachers also have a role in asking children whether they are distressed after watching some videos and encouraging them to speak about their experiences.
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