Uzbekistan’s proposed legal restrictions on social media use by children under 16 will not resolve all related problems without broader measures to protect their well-being, Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov shared in an interview with Gazeta on the sidelines of the global summit “Investing in Children’s Well-being” in Samarkand on October 24.
Shermatov noted that although digital technologies offer children opportunities to learn and develop, they also pose risks to their health, including excessive screen time, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits.
He emphasized the need to provide children with engaging offline activities, opportunities to socialize with their peers and more opportunities for physical exercise to reduce the time they spend on electronic devices.
“How much time do we spend talking to children in the family? Do we talk to them when we get home, or is everyone busy with their phones or TV? Children’s use of the Internet can be restricted at school, but there is also the issue of the environment in the family,” Shermatov said.
The minister added that no single approach to restricting children’s social media use would be equally effective in every country. Alongside legislative measures, he called for a comprehensive program combining organizational measures with initiatives to help children spend their free time meaningfully.
“If the law is passed, not all problems will be solved overnight. Even in countries that have introduced such restrictions, the issue has not been fully resolved. Experts need to work together and prepare a comprehensive program,” Shermatov said.
He also called for a roadmap based on discussions at the Samarkand summit and expert recommendations, with relevant ministries and agencies expected to improve their work on the issue.
Shermatov criticized the practice of some parents giving children phones to keep them quiet or occupied, saying that addressing the problem requires a collective effort from society.
In June 2026, Minister of Preschool and School Education Ezozkhon Karimova announced plans to introduce legal restrictions on social media use by children under 16. At the time, she said discussions had been held with deputies and senators, and that a draft law was expected to be prepared and submitted for public discussion.
The proposed restrictions are part of broader efforts to address the impact of digital technologies on children, although the legislative process and the final scope of the measures remain to be established.