The Federal Government has begun consultations on plans to introduce age restrictions for social media use as part of efforts to strengthen online safety for children across Nigeria.
The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has launched a public poll asking parents, teachers, young people, and technology experts to share their ideas on the best way to manage children’s use of digital platforms.
Officials say the aim is to create a fair policy that safeguards children from online dangers while still allowing them to benefit from the internet for learning and communication.
The News Chronicle gathered that the government’s action follows a significant surge in internet consumption powered by rising mobile phone penetration and increasing broadband availability.
While broadband penetration rose to over half of the population, recent telecom statistics indicate active phone users hit almost 182 million in January 2026.
According to officials, youngsters nowadays face growing online hazards, including cyberbullying, damaging content, exploitation, abuse of personal information, and new risks connected with artificial intelligence tools.
The Ministry of Communications stated that public involvement will be crucial in determining the final plan, which might call for improved age-verification systems, greater platform responsibility, and more rigorous monitoring of social media companies.
Nigeria would follow several other nations already investigating measures to reduce children’s exposure to hazardous material on major social media channels and to foster safer digital spaces for young users, if adopted.
