83% Of Nigerians Back Social Media Restrictions For Children

A majority of Nigerians support the introduction of age restrictions on social media use by children, according to the findings of a new survey presented

The survey, conducted as part of ongoing discussions on child online safety, was unveiled during a roundtable on the Safety and Protection of Children Online organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The presentation comes amid the Federal Government’s plans to introduce age-based regulations for social media use in Nigeria as part of efforts to protect children from online risks.

According to the survey, which captured the views of 585 Nigerians, 83.4 per cent of respondents supported regulating children’s access to social media platforms. Of that figure, 64.8 per cent favoured outright regulation, while 18.6 per cent supported the idea but preferred a different minimum age threshold from under 16.

Among the 16.6 per cent who opposed regulation, 51 per cent argued that education and digital literacy would be more effective than restrictions, while 40 per cent preferred the use of parental control tools to safeguard children online.

On the minimum age for social media access, 36.8 per cent of respondents supported setting the limit at 16 years, aligning with Australia’s recent policy, while 27.7 per cent preferred 17 years. Meanwhile, 13 per cent backed the current global platform standard of 13 years.

The survey also revealed widespread concern over children’s safety online, with 93.5 per cent of respondents expressing great or extreme concern about the risks faced by children under 18 on social media platforms.

Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the rapidly evolving digital landscape requires continuous updates to policies and safeguards designed to protect children.

He noted that while social media offers valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and innovation, children must be shielded from harmful content, exploitation, and other online dangers.

“The debate should focus on implementing age restrictions effectively rather than questioning the need for such safeguards,” Tijani said.

He added that Nigeria could leverage digital identity infrastructure and existing platform verification systems to enforce age-based regulations, stressing that the possibility of circumvention should not be a reason to abandon protective measures.

Tijani further emphasized that ensuring children’s online safety requires collaboration among government agencies, parents, technology companies, and other stakeholders.

Also speaking, NDPC National Commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, warned that children face growing threats in digital spaces, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, exposure to harmful content, and mental health challenges.

He said internet access remains vital for education and development but must be accompanied by effective safeguards to protect young users from harm.

Olatunji described child online safety as a shared responsibility involving government, parents, schools, communities, and digital platform operators.

The Federal Government, however, stated that any regulation eventually adopted would be determined through nationwide consultations with Nigerians.

If implemented, Nigeria could join a growing list of countries introducing age restrictions for social media use. Countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Denmark, and France have either introduced or are considering similar measures aimed at protecting children online.