  
Parents do not hold the right to compromise their children’s privacy by exposing them to social media publicity for personal popularity or financial gain, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated in Colombo. The Minister emphasized that parents cannot decide on behalf of their children whether they should become social media personalities, maintaining that such determinations must strictly be made once individuals reach adulthood and possess sufficient mental maturity to make informed choices.
Addressing the growing trend of digital exploitation, Minister Paulraj raised alarm over adults involving children in dangerous activities and inappropriate material simply to capture online attention and generate revenue. She pointed out that minors are increasingly being subjected to hazardous environments, urged to use obscene language, and drawn into adult-oriented or sexualized content, creating profound threats to their safety, welfare, and personal development.
Key Developments
- Limits on Parental Authority: Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated parents cannot decide whether their children become public online personalities, reserving that choice for adulthood.
- Exposure to Online Hazards: Minors are being placed in dangerous environments, encouraged to use profanity, and subjected to adult-oriented or sexualized content to attract views and profit.
- Potential Protective Guardianship: Children placed at significant risk through reckless online exposure could be categorized as vulnerable, potentially warranting protective guardianship.
- Prioritizing Welfare: The Ministry reiterated that children’s safety, privacy, and well-being must consistently take precedence over social media notoriety and financial interests.
The Minister delivered a clear warning regarding legal and welfare repercussions, noting that minors placed at substantial risk due to irresponsible parental online conduct could be formally classified as vulnerable children. In such severe circumstances, she cautioned that protective guardianship may become necessary to defend and safeguard their fundamental interests. Paulraj concluded that a child’s safety, privacy, and overall well-being must always stand above the pursuit of digital fame and monetary compensation.