The Federal Government has begun consultations on plans to introduce age restrictions for social media use in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen online safety for children.
To that effect, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has launched a public poll seeking input from parents, educators, young people, and digital experts on how best to regulate children’s access to social media and other digital platforms.
According to the ministry, the initiative is aimed at developing a balanced and evidence based policy framework that protects children from online risks while preserving the educational and social benefits of internet access.
In a policy note accompanying the survey, the ministry said that while the internet provides valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to a range of risks.
These, it said, include cyberbullying, harmful content, online grooming, misuse of personal data, addictive platform features, and emerging threats linked to artificial intelligence tools.
- “As Nigeria evaluates possible policy options, it is important that any approach reflects national priorities, respects children’s rights, and responds effectively to the realities of the country’s digital landscape,” the Ministry stated.
Also commenting on the survey via a post on his X handle, the Supervising Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani said the government is working to ensure that children are better protected as internet adoption continues to expand.
- “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,” Tijani said.
He added that public participation is essential in shaping policies that balance digital access with adequate safeguards for minors.
- “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 and respects children’s rights,” he said.
With this move, Nigeria is set to join the list of countries, mostly European, that have either implemented or are about to implement age restrictions for social media.
- Prominent on the list is Australia, which implemented a ban on social media for under-16s in December 2025, forcing platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to restrict access.
- Indonesia has also announced a social media ban for children under 16, following similar global trends.
- Denmark is also set to ban social media platforms for children under 15. The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for the ban from three governing coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.
Similarly, in late January, French lawmakers passed a bill that would ban social media for kids under 15. President Emmanuel Macron has supported the measure as a way to protect children from excessive screen time.
Nigeria has witnessed rapid growth in internet and social media usage over the past decade, driven largely by increased smartphone adoption and expanding mobile broadband networks.
However, the growth has also raised concerns among policymakers and child protection advocates about the exposure of minors to harmful online content and digital exploitation.
According to the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, more than 40 million Nigerians spend an average of six hours daily on social media.
This, he said, makes it imperative for the people to understand the importance of data privacy and the risks associated with sharing personal information on social media platforms.
By Samson Akintaro
