Egypt’s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) has declared that safeguarding children in the digital space is a national priority, calling for tighter regulation of children’s internet use and stronger protections against online risks.
In a statement issued on January 28, the council said that regulating children’s use of mobile phones, social media platforms, and electronic games is central to Egypt’s national child protection policy, as the digital world expands rapidly and online risks continue to grow.
Sahar El-Senbati, Chairperson of the NCCM, said that while social media offers opportunities for learning and communication, it has increasingly become a gateway to serious risks, including exposure to exploitation and age-inappropriate content. She warned that such exposure can negatively affect children’s mental health and behavior.
According to a 2024 report by the government-linked National Center for Social and Criminological Research, nearly half of Egypt’s children under the age of 18 use social media. These platforms expose them to harmful content, cyberbullying, and online abuse.
The council urged authorities and relevant stakeholders to draw on international best practices and adopt a balanced approach that allows children to benefit from the internet while strengthening oversight of content directed at minors. It called for restrictions on photographing children, sharing their images or personal data, or communicating with them through digital platforms outside approved and lawful frameworks.
The NCCM emphasized that protecting children online should focus on prevention, not only responses after harm occurs. It called for promoting safe and responsible technology use and raising awareness among children, families, and institutions about digital risks, protection measures, and reporting channels.
The statement comes amid a growing national debate on the impact of the digital world on children and teenagers, a topic that has gained traction in both parliament and the presidential office.
Several lawmakers have voiced concern over unmonitored smartphone use, social media exposure, and electronic gaming among children, citing potential social, psychological, and educational consequences. Members of parliament have called for stronger legal measures to regulate children’s online activity, enhance parental controls, and hold digital platforms accountable for content aimed at minors.
On January 26, the House of Representatives announced plans to draft legislation regulating children’s use of social media, aiming to “put an end to the digital chaos our children are facing, and which negatively impacts their future.” Lawmakers said consultations with government officials and experts would shape a law designed to protect Egyptian children from risks that threaten their thinking and behavior.
