Social Media Ban for Children Looms as FG Unveils Shocking Survey Findings

The Federal Government has hinted at introducing tougher restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms following overwhelming public support for stricter online safety measures.
This follows the outcome of a nationwide survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which revealed that a vast majority of Nigerians favor regulating children’s use of social media.
The survey results were presented on Thursday at a roundtable on child online protection held in Lagos. The event was organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Speaking during the gathering, Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Kasim Sodangi, disclosed that 585 respondents participated in the survey, sharing their views on social media access, online safety, legal protections and enforcement mechanisms affecting children.
According to the findings, 83.4 percent of respondents supported some form of restriction on children’s access to social media. While 64.8 percent backed direct regulation, an additional 18.6 percent agreed that restrictions were necessary but preferred a different age threshold.
The survey also revealed growing support for increasing the minimum age for social media use. About 64.5 percent of respondents favored raising the age limit to either 16 or 17 years, significantly above the internationally recognized benchmark of 13 years.
The ministry noted that nearly all respondents were Nigerians, making the findings a strong reflection of public sentiment within the country.
Concerns over children’s online safety were also prominent. More than 93 percent of participants expressed serious worries about the dangers young users face on digital platforms. Of this number, 69.2 percent described their concerns as extreme, while 24.3 percent said they were highly concerned.
Exposure to harmful and inappropriate content topped the list of fears, with over 90 percent identifying it as a major threat. Other concerns included cyberbullying, online grooming, digital addiction and various forms of exploitation targeting minors.
The poll further highlighted a significant awareness gap, with nearly three-quarters of respondents believing that many parents and children lack adequate knowledge of cybercrime laws and the consequences of online misconduct.
There was also near-unanimous support for stronger accountability from technology companies, as 97.6 percent of respondents insisted that social media platforms should take proactive measures to protect younger users from harm.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the rapid expansion of digital technology demands stronger safeguards for children.
While acknowledging the educational and creative benefits of social media, Tijani stressed that protecting young users from harmful content and exploitation must remain a priority.
“The debate should focus on how to effectively enforce age restrictions rather than whether such safeguards are necessary,” he said.
He added that Nigeria could leverage digital identity systems and existing verification technologies to strengthen compliance with age-based regulations.
“The fact that some individuals may find ways around the rules does not mean the safeguards should not exist,” the minister stated.
Tijani also emphasized that child protection in the digital space is a shared responsibility involving government, parents, schools, technology companies and civil society organizations.
Also speaking at the event, NDPC National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, warned that children are increasingly vulnerable to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, harmful online content and mental health challenges.
He maintained that while internet access remains essential for learning and development, robust measures must be implemented to ensure children can navigate the digital world safely.