Sri Lanka urges caution as parents monetise children's social media content

The ministry has issued a public advisory highlighting concerns over the increasing trend of parents and guardians uploading content featuring children to social media platforms, driven partly by lucrative monetization opportunities offered by Facebook and similar services.

With financial incentives now embedded in major social media platforms, the practice of sharing children's images and videos has accelerated significantly across the region. The ministry cautioned that such postings may expose minors to unforeseen risks and potential exploitation.

The advisory underscores the need for parents and caregivers to exercise greater vigilance before uploading any content depicting children online. The ministry emphasised that individuals should carefully consider the privacy implications and long-term consequences of making children's images publicly available on digital platforms.

The warning comes as digital literacy and child safety concerns continue to gain prominence in Sri Lanka and across South Asia, where social media adoption rates remain high among younger demographics. Authorities have stressed that while sharing family moments online is commonplace, protecting children's privacy and security must remain a paramount consideration for all users.