Egyptian lawmakers are drafting new legislation aimed at curbing children’s exposure to what officials describe as the “digital chaos” of social media, aligning the country with a growing international push to regulate how young people use online platforms.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has publicly urged Parliament to move quickly, calling for a law that would limit young people’s access to social media “until they reach an age when they can handle it properly.” His remarks, broadcast on national television, framed the issue as a matter of national responsibility, warning that unregulated digital spaces can distort values, fuel addiction and expose minors to manipulation.

In a statement, the House of Representatives said legislators will work with government ministries, child protection specialists and digital policy experts to design a framework that shields children from content and interactions deemed harmful to their “thought and behavior.” Proposals under discussion include age-based access rules, stricter identity verification, and obligations on platforms to remove or filter material considered abusive or dangerous to minors.

Concerns are driven in part by data showing how deeply social media has penetrated young people’s lives. Roughly half of Egyptians under 18 use social platforms, according to a 2024 report cited by lawmakers, leaving them vulnerable to cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, extremist propaganda and addictive design features that encourage excessive screen time.

Egypt’s debate is unfolding as governments worldwide experiment with tougher controls. Australia has moved to ban social media accounts for children under 16, igniting intense arguments over privacy, parental rights, mental health and the power of tech companies. In the United Kingdom, officials are weighing whether to bar younger teenagers from certain platforms while tightening enforcement of child-safety rules.

France is also pushing ahead. President Emmanuel Macron has pressed his government to accelerate legislation that would block children under 15 from using social media, with the goal of making the ban enforceable before the next school year. French authorities are exploring mechanisms such as mandatory age verification and penalties for companies that fail to comply.

Egyptian lawmakers say they are studying these international models but insist any law must reflect local social norms and legal traditions. The emerging legislation is expected to spark debate over how to balance child protection with freedom of expression, parental authority and young people’s growing reliance on digital tools for education and social life.