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Government Seeks Public Input on Child Online Safety Framework
The Nigerian Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has commenced a nationwide public consultation process aimed at introducing age restrictions for social media use.
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The initiative is designed to protect minors from cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, and data privacy risks in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital environment.
Minister Highlights Opportunities and Risks of the Internet for Children
Announcing the move via his official X account, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasised that while the internet offers immense benefits, it also exposes children to growing digital threats.
“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 stated.
He added that as Nigeria evaluates policy options for protecting children online, broad public engagement is critical to shaping an effective and rights-respecting framework.
Focus on Age Verification and Platform Accountability
According to the Minister, the consultation will explore several regulatory approaches, including age restrictions, stronger age-verification systems, enhanced platform accountability, and improved regulatory oversight.
The objective, he noted, is to ensure that any policy adopted reflects Nigeria’s national priorities, respects children’s rights, and responds to the realities of the country’s digital ecosystem.
Key Elements of the Public Consultation
Key aspects of the initiative include:
- Public Participation: Gathering input from parents, educators, young people, digital rights advocates, and technology experts
- Child Safety Concerns: Addressing cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online grooming, exploitation, and data privacy threats
- Proposed Measures: Consideration of stricter age verification, increased responsibility for social media platforms, and potential restrictions for minors below specified age thresholds
- Balanced Approach: Ensuring child safety while preserving access to the educational and creative benefits of digital platforms
Nigeria Joins Global Efforts to Regulate Social Media for Minors
With this move, Nigeria joins a growing list of countries—including Australia, France, and Indonesia—that are exploring or implementing stricter regulations to safeguard children on social media platforms.
Balancing Protection and Digital Inclusion
The Federal Government stressed that the consultation is not intended to stifle digital innovation or access, but to strike a careful balance between protecting minors and enabling them to benefit from digital learning, creativity, and responsible online engagement.
