FG Begins Consultation on Age Limits for Social Media Use to Protect Nigerian Children

T The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced nationwide consultations on plans to introduce age limits for social media use as part of efforts to improve online safety for children.

The initiative is being driven by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which has launched a public survey to gather opinions from parents, teachers, young people, and digital experts on how best to regulate children’s access to social media platforms.

According to the ministry, the consultation seeks to develop a balanced policy framework that will safeguard children from online threats while still enabling them to benefit from the educational and social opportunities provided by internet access.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, explained that the government is taking proactive steps to ensure minors are better protected as internet usage continues to expand rapidly across the country.

Tijani noted that although the internet offers immense opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to several risks.

“These include cyberbullying, exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging threats linked to artificial intelligence tools,” the minister said.

He emphasized that public participation will be crucial in shaping the proposed regulations, stressing that the government wants a policy that reflects the views of citizens and stakeholders.

The consultation will also explore possible measures such as introducing minimum age requirements for social media access, implementing stronger age-verification systems, increasing accountability for digital platforms, and strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure safer online environments for young users.

Officials say the feedback gathered from the survey will guide the development of future policies aimed at protecting Nigerian children in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.