FG Seeks Public Views on Age Restrictions for Children’s Social Media Use

The Federal Government has launched a public consultation to gather opinions on proposed measures to enhance online safety for children, which may include imposing age restrictions on social media platforms.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced the initiative on Tuesday via his official X account. He noted that while the internet provides valuable opportunities for learning and creativity, it also exposes young users to significant dangers.

“While the internet offers significant opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence tools,” Dr. Tijani stated.

He explained that the government is evaluating several policy approaches, such as introducing age restrictions, improving age verification systems, enforcing platform accountability, and strengthening regulatory oversight.

The move aligns with global trends, as countries like Australia have recently implemented outright bans on social media for users under the age of 16.

To ensure the policy reflects national priorities and the realities of Nigeria’s digital space, the minister has called on parents, educators, young people, and digital professionals to participate in the survey.

The feedback form is available online at: https://t.co/qsW3h72M9