Dare Babalola
The Federal Government has initiated a public consultation to gather views on possible measures to safeguard children online, including setting age limits for social media platforms.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the launch of the public consultation.
Announcing the initiative on Tuesday via his official X account, Tijani highlighted the dual nature of the internet, which presents both opportunities and risks for 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.
“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 shared a link to the survey, inviting Nigerians to provide their feedback: https://t.co/qsW3h72M9U.
The move aligns with global trends in which countries like Australia have implemented outright bans on social media for users under 16.
Tijani urged parents, educators, young people, digital professionals, and other stakeholders to participate in the survey to shape evidence-based policies for safer online spaces for children in Nigeria.
