When 11-year-old son of Sushanta Roy started using a smartphone and social media last year, his parents never imagined what they would eventually find.
A month ago, as a barrage of notifications popped up, Sushanta opened his son’s Messenger group. He was dumbfounded by the adult content and dark humor reels. In utter disbelief, he took control of the phone and deleted all social media applications.
“I had no idea what my child was watching or who he was interacting with,” says a regretful Sushanta, a resident of Dhaka’s Laxmibazar. Since then, the father has kept his son’s phone under monitoring.
However, the risk remains high since the child is allowed to use the phone.
Sushanta’s experience reveals a danger that exist but remains unnoticed in most affluent families and in the country. Tweens are allowed to use smartphone with little or no monitoring by their parents.
While countries around the world are introducing age restrictions and stronger online safety measures to protect children from digital hazards, Bangladesh has yet to develop any clear policy on the issue. Many parents also remain unaware of the risks until something serious happens.
The concern intensified after the murder of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apratim in Cumilla. The teenager had a TikTok account, and his involvement in making videos reportedly brought him closer to juvenile criminals in his area.
The incident raised difficult questions: What are children doing online? Whom are they communicating with? And who is monitoring their digital lives?
Bangladesh currently has no minimum age requirement for social media use. The Children Act 2013 does not contain any specific provision on online safety, while cyber protection laws have also not introduced age-based restrictions on children’s access to social media.
Over the past decade, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and other platforms have become deeply embedded in young people’s lives in Bangladesh. In 2025, these platforms had around 60 million users, nearly 34 per cent of the country’s population, with a significant share being teenagers and young users.
But the digital world that offers entertainment and connection also exposes children to risks.
Abdulla Al Mamun, head of Child Protection & Child Rights Governance at Save the Children, told TIMES that social media platforms are increasingly operating beyond the reach of national laws.
“Facebook, TikTok and YouTube seem to be more powerful than the state itself. Content that is banned under our laws is still being uploaded on these platforms through videos and images,” he said.
Emphasising that children require the highest level of protection, he said policymakers’ attention to online child safety remains questionable.
“I doubt how much priority children’s online safety has received in policymaking. A key question is whether policymakers actually understand the risks children are facing and how the issue is being addressed globally,” he said.
The global debate around children’s social media use centres on the spread of violent, aggressive, and sexually suggestive content. Experts warn that repeated exposure to such material can affect children’s behaviour, attention, emotional development, and social relationships.
In some cases, children become involved with criminal networks, lose interest in studies, develop unhealthy online habits and become detached from real-life interactions.
In August, a case involving a 13-year-old girl from Hazaribagh in Dhaka brought another concern to light. The girl was allegedly married after meeting someone through TikTok, followed by allegations of physical abuse and separation from her infant child.
The pressure children face online was reflected in a Unicef youth poll published in February 2025 for Safer Internet Day. Nearly 29,000 children and young people under 18 responded. Two-thirds cited fake news and misinformation as the biggest source of social media stress, while others pointed to bullying, negative comments, and harmful content.
Unicef Bangladesh Child Protection Chief Natalie McCauley said children’s increasing screen time is raising the risk of exposure to inappropriate content and online predators.
Social media has also emerged as a communication tool among juvenile gangs. According to law enforcement observations, Facebook, Messenger, TikTok and online gaming platforms are being used to maintain contact among gang members.
There have been allegations of TikTok being used for extortion, drug-related activities, crimes against women and other illegal activities. Incidents involving gambling, drug trading and consumption under the name of “TikTok parties” have also been reported.
Journalist Shahnaz Sharmeen, writes on child rights, argues policymakers often look for simple solutions. “Blocking harmful websites or links cannot solve the problem. In the era of modern technology, children cannot be protected simply by blocking sites,” she said.
According to information from the elite force SRB (former RAB), 1,126 juvenile criminals were arrested in the country over the past six years. Analysis of their mobile phones found evidence that gang members communicated through Facebook, Messenger, TikTok and online gaming platforms.
Professor Shalahuddin Qusar Biplob, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Bangladesh Medical University, said excessive internet use was affecting children’s brains and behaviour.
“Internet addiction increases dopamine release in the brain, causing addicted children to become detached from reality and remain trapped in an imaginary ‘fantasy’ world,” he said.
He also pointed to weakening family relationships as a major factor, saying many children are becoming disconnected from their parents.
Fahmida Khatun, distinguished fellow at CPD, warned that digital addiction could become similar to drug addiction. She said a lack of regulation could affect young people’s ability to think independently and their creativity.
Children are vulnerable not only as users but also as creators of online content.
“Digital footprints can create permanent harm for these children,” Shahnaz said, describing the issue as a serious rights and privacy concern.
Several countries have already introduced age-based restrictions to address these risks.
Australia banned children under 16 from opening accounts on certain social media platforms from December 2025, with technology companies facing fines of up to A$54.6 million for violations.
Indonesia introduced similar restrictions in 2026 for platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Malaysia also adopted a similar measure from 1 June.
Greece and the United Arab Emirates have prohibited children under 15 from creating, using or managing social media accounts.
Portugal prohibits social media use for children under 13, while those aged 13–16 require parental permission. France requires parental approval for users under 15, and Brazil has introduced parental supervision requirements.
China prohibits livestreaming or hosting content by children under 16. Those aged 16–18 require identity verification and parental consent.
The proposed EU Kids Act also includes restrictions for younger users, including bans on accounts for children under 13 and parental control mechanisms for teenagers.
In May, Supreme Court lawyer Sanaullah Noori served a legal notice on the government, calling for a ban on children and adolescents up to the age of 16 using social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. He also called for effective measures to prevent their misuse.
However, the country still lacks a practical framework for verifying ages, identifying children and ensuring accountability of foreign-based platforms.
Speaking at a programme in November last year, BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh said Bangladesh needs to begin discussions on setting age limits for children’s social media use.
Technology expert Sumon Ahmed Sabir told TIMES, “Simply imposing restrictions will not be enough. Alongside awareness among children and parents, opportunities for sports and healthy entertainment must also be increased.”
