By Achile Danjuma
The Federal Government has launched a public consultation to gather opinions on potential measures to protect children online, including age restrictions for social media platforms.
Announcing the initiative on Tuesday via his official X account, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, highlighted the opportunities and risks of the internet 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.