Sherab Lhamo
As social media use in Bhutan continues to grow, concerns about the lack of regulations and its potential negative impact on society are intensifying.
During the National Assembly question-and-answer session yesterday, member of Parliament (MP) for Kengkhar-Weringla, Dorji Wangmo, questioned about the risks associated with social media, particularly for young people.
She highlighted issues such as mental health problems, the spread of misinformation, online scams, fraud, and cyberbullying.
Though she acknowledged the many benefits of social media, MP Dorji Wangmo questioned the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) about the government’s plans to regulate social media and mitigate these harmful effects.
The MP referred to Section 71(4) of the Information, Communications, and Media Act of Bhutan 2018, which mandates the regulation or restriction of harmful, offensive, illegal, or antithetical content on the internet and other ICT services. She also pointed to Section 71(9), which stresses the protection of vulnerable groups, such as children and young people, from undesirable influences in media services.
The MoICE Minister Namgyal Dorji acknowledged the importance of regulating social media to protect the public. He explained that the Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Authority (BICMA) is working closely with the Royal Bhutan Police, civil society organisations, and other agencies to raise awareness about the risks of unregulated online content.
Following the Civil Service Reform Act 2022, which merged the Media Council with BICMA, the authority has inherited all the responsibilities of the Media Council, including those related to media regulation. However, the Minister stated that the Ministry is considering the creation of a media committee to further address media-related issues and strengthen collaboration on social media governance.
Lyonpo also emphasised the importance of individual responsibility in using social media. “Media should be a space free from harm and shame,” he said, underlining the need for responsible engagement by users.