As anxiety, cyberbullying and online predators surge, countries are slamming the brakes on children’s social media use, with Nigeria appearing to be weighing an equally hard choice. With 64.5 per cent of Nigerians backing a cut-off at 16 or 17, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) flagging rising online sexual abuse, the communications ministry has opened a national poll: ‘Should Nigeria ban under-16s from TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X, or risk a generation lost to infinite scroll?’ The outcome is telling, reports IYABO LAWAL.

Spurred on by an overwhelming 80 per cent of respondents in a survey, the Ministry of Communications has moved to restrict children’s access to social media as a parallel review by the Ministry of Women Affairs seeks to overhaul Nigeria’s outdated child protection infrastructure.

Several countries have passed or are actively enforcing legislation banning children from social media, driven by concerns over cyberbullying, mental health, and addictive platform design. Enforcement scope and age minimums vary by region.

“Our government introduced new legislation to protect our kids online. Canada’s Safe Social Media Act will hold social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms accountable, make them safer, and restrict access to social media for children under 16,” said Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister.

Australia became the world’s first country to enforce a nationwide ban on minors under 16, penalising tech firms up to $35 million for failing to block accounts on major platforms such as TikTok, X, Instagram, and Reddit.

The United Kingdom’s sweeping legislation restricts social media access for users under 16, requiring platforms to implement strict age verification to prevent addiction, exposure to harmful content, and cyberbullying.

The immediate past British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said social media should be banned for under-16s in a landmark government move to give kids their childhoods back.

The plans will set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the government’s fight to give every child the best start in life.

The government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia. This would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and allow users to post content, as well as algorithms. The ban will, therefore, include platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

These restrictions, which, together with the ban, go further than in any other country, will apply to a wider range of online services, including gaming sites.

Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for 16 and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16. The government will also look in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks from infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds, among other steps.

The United Arab Emirates implemented a social media ban for all children under 15, requiring tech companies to review and remove underage accounts or face heavy penalties.

Indonesia and Malaysia have begun enacting bans and age-verification requirements, threatening fines up to $2.5 million for platforms failing to keep children under 16 off their services.

Multiple countries in the European Union are pushing for strict restrictions. France and Denmark are expediting legislation to ban social media access for children under 15, and Spain is moving forward with similar child safety crackdowns.

Gabon is the first African country to pass a law banning children under 16 from creating personal accounts, making parents legally responsible. Gabon published this decree in its official journal, enacting a ban for minors under 16. The law includes explicit carve-outs only for pre-approved educational usage and codifies legal liability for parents or guardians who fail to monitor their children’s access.

Rwanda proposed legislation restricting children under 16 from accessing networks such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube; roughly 46 per cent of schoolchildren browse these platforms on their phones.

Zimbabwe is formulating laws to keep minors off social media until they reach the national maturity age of 18. The country’s cabinet officially approved the Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy (2026–2030). Information and Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera confirmed the specific intent to ban children from accessing social media until they reach the legal maturity age of 18.

Recently, Nigeria launched a nationwide public inquiry and consultation through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to draft age restrictions.

The minister released the official public consultation and survey data on the proposed Social Media Age Regulation in Nigeria. The findings showed that over 80 per cent of Nigerians support age regulation, with 64.5 per cent specifically favouring a minimum social media cut-off age of 16 or 17.

In a move to strengthen online safety for children in Nigeria, the Federal Government has begun consultations to introduce age restrictions on social media use.à

As part of the plan, 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.

The initiative, according to the ministry, aims to develop a balanced, evidence-based policy framework that protects children from online risks, while preserving the educational and social benefits of Internet access.

On the planned social media age restrictions, the ministry added that these risks 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.

Commenting on the survey, the Communications Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the government is working to ensure that children are better protected as Internet adoption continues to expand.

A public analyst, Kenneth Udom, noted that while the Internet offers significant opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to risks such as harmful content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence tools.

According to him, public participation is essential in shaping policies that balance digital access with adequate safeguards for minors.

The successful implementation of the plan will see Nigeria join countries that have addressed child safety on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, among others.

Dr Jide Johnson, a lecturer at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), has urged stakeholders to protect children from abuse and exploitation. Johnson urged the government, parents, media organisations and communities to prevent child neglect, abuse and avoidable deaths.

He reminded stakeholders that children’s rights under the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 must be protected by all, and described these rights as legal obligations rather than acts of charity or goodwill.

Johnson said children require adult support because they cannot confront life’s challenges alone. He added that responsible reporting demands compassion, careful judgement and protective measures for vulnerable children.

He noted that poverty, abuse, neglect and exploitation have exposed many children to serious risks.

According to him, global efforts had gradually established the protection of children as a universal responsibility.

For Mrs Adeola Bello, a teacher and mother of three in the Surulere area of Lagos, the risks are no longer theoretical.

“My 13-year-old daughter stopped eating well last term. We later found out a group chat was bullying her on TikTok. If Australia can ban under-16s and fine TikTok $35m, why is Nigeria still consulting? Our children are not lab rats. The government should protect them first, then talk about ‘digital rights’ later.”

Chukwudi Okoro, a small business owner and father in the Ikeja area of Lagos, said the battle for attention is already lost at home.

“My son knows more about Instagram reels than his maths textbook. I took his phone, and he cried for two days. If the UK can say ‘give kids their childhood back’ and ban livestreaming for under-16s, Nigeria should do the same. Right now, these apps are raising our children, not us.

Ms Folashade Akinyemi, a secondary school teacher in Yaba, Lagos, sees the academic damage daily in her classroom.

“In class, JSS2 students can quote TikTok trends word-for-word, but can’t spell ‘government.’ The infinite scroll is destroying their attention span. Gabon made parents legally liable for under-16 accounts. Nigeria needs that kind of law. Teachers cannot fight algorithms alone,” Akinyemi said.

A retired Principal, Ibrahim Adeloye, said predators are exploiting Nigeria’s weak age checks.

“Two of our SS1 girls were contacted by strangers on Facebook Messenger last year. One case became sexual extortion. 64 per cent of Nigerians want a 16+ cut-off, yet platforms still let 10-year-olds open accounts with fake ages. If Indonesia fines platforms $2.5m for this, Nigeria must follow.

Whether Nigeria adopts Australia’s punitive model, Gabon’s parental liability, or the UK’s default restrictions on livestreaming and algorithms, the central question remains unchanged: can regulation outpace the infinite scroll before another generation’s childhood is traded for screen time? The outcome of the Ministry of Communications’ public inquiry will signal whether Nigeria treats digital safety as an urgent child-protection imperative or as a debate for tomorrow.

Recently, a UNICEF-supported study highlighted growing risks of online sexual abuse facing children in Nigeria and called for stronger protection systems to address emerging threats in digital spaces.

The findings were presented during a four-day national review and validation exercise held in Abuja as part of the National Policy Forum for Women, Children, Families and Vulnerable Groups.

Dr Ebunoluwa Jaiyesimi, a research consultant, presented the study during a session focused on child protection and support services for survivors of sexual violence.

The study examined Nigeria’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) model, which provides comprehensive services for survivors, including medical, psychosocial and legal support.

According to the report, the number of SARC centres has expanded significantly from one in 2013 to 52 across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The report noted that the centres provided medical treatment, psychosocial counselling, forensic services, and referrals to relevant institutions to ensure comprehensive survivor support and recovery.

The report identified online grooming, sexual extortion, cyberbullying involving sexual content and the circulation of child sexual abuse materials as emerging threats.

It restated that responses to online abuse remained at a developmental stage and required stronger institutional frameworks to effectively safeguard children from digital exploitation.

The study noted that the existing SARC model provided a strong foundation for addressing abuse linked to digital platforms and online interactions.

The study also called for improved forensic capabilities, specialised professional training and legislative reforms to better address online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Relatedly, the Nigerian government has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s child protection framework, including the 19-year-old National Child Policy and outstanding international child rights reports. The exercise seeks to strengthen protections nationwide.

Save the Children Country Director, Duncan Harvey, identified climate-related shocks, online exploitation and mental health concerns as emerging threats requiring stronger child protection responses and coordinated interventions from stakeholders at all levels.

Harvey also called for increased investment in social workers and frontline responders, describing them as essential to building effective, responsive and sustainable child protection systems.

Co-Chairman of the National Child Rights Implementation Committee, Dr Mac-John Nwobiala, said inadequate funding and weak data management systems remained major obstacles to implementing child rights programmes effectively, limiting coordination, monitoring and evidence-based decision-making nationwide.

According to him, weak coordination among local, state, and federal institutions has hindered the development of a robust nationwide child rights database.