The Nigeria 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 the country.
As part of the initiative, the Federal 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.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said the consultation is aimed at developing a balanced, evidence-based policy framework that protects children from online risks while preserving the educational and social benefits of internet access.
On the proposed restrictions, the ministry noted that children face several online threats, including cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online grooming, exposure of personal data, addictive platform features and emerging risks linked to artificial intelligence tools.
Commenting on the initiative in a post on his X account, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the government is working to ensure that children are better protected as internet adoption continues to expand.
According to him, public participation is critical in shaping policies that strike a balance between digital access and adequate safeguards for minors.
If implemented, Nigeria would join countries such as Denmark, France and Australia that have introduced measures aimed at improving child safety on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Data from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) shows that more than 40 million Nigerians spend an average of six hours daily on social media platforms.
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