Sri Lanka, July 13 -- A generation ago, parents worried about the influences that entered their homes through television. Today, most children carry a device in their pocket that can expose them to addiction, cyberbullying, pornography, predatory behaviour, misinformation, gambling, violence, and harmful content at any hour of the day.

As an educator who has spent decades working with young people, I have witnessed a dramatic change in the behaviour, attention spans, emotional wellbeing, and social interactions of children. Many of the most serious issues faced by schools today have one common denominator: Excessive and uncontrolled exposure to social media.

The time has come for Sri Lanka to introduce legislation that prohibits childr...