ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has begun a public consultation to gather opinions on possible measures to safeguard children online, including the introduction of age restrictions for social media platforms.
The initiative was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, through his official X account, where he outlined both the benefits and risks the internet presents to children.
“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 wrote.
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“As Nigeria evaluates potential policy approaches for protection of children online, including age restrictions, improved age verification systems, platform accountability measures, and enhanced regulatory oversight, public input is essential to ensure that any framework adopted reflects national priorities, respects children’s rights, and responds to the realities of Nigeria’s digital landscape,” he added.
The minister also shared a link to the survey, inviting Nigerians to submit their views: https://t.co/qsW3h72M9U.
The initiative reflects a growing global trend, with some countries such as Australia introducing outright bans on social media use for individuals under the age of 16.
Tijani encouraged parents, teachers, young people, digital professionals, and other stakeholders to take part in the survey to help shape evidence-based policies aimed at creating safer online environments for children in Nigeria.