The notice was sent on 7 May by barrister Sanaullah Noori on behalf of the Legal Voice Foundation. It urges the authorities to take effective measures to curb the misuse of social media and strengthen regulatory control.

The notice was addressed to the secretaries of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, the Information and Communication Technology Division, as well as the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

According to the notice, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are being used in an increasingly harmful manner by children and adolescents. It claims that excessive and unregulated use has led to rising addiction, social media-related violence, and a decline in physical and mental well-being.

The notice further alleges that exposure to misinformation, propaganda and easily accessible pornographic content is negatively affecting young users’ intelligence, behaviour and values. As a result, many are losing interest in studies, avoiding school and college, and, in some cases, becoming involved in criminal activities.

It also notes that addiction to online games and explicit content has often gone beyond parental control, as many parents lack adequate knowledge of digital platforms.

The notice calls on the relevant authorities to take practical and effective steps within 15 days of receiving the notice to regulate social media use and prevent misuse.