A survey by the Federal Ministry of Communication Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has revealed that no fewer than four in five Nigerians support some form of social media regulation for children.
Bosun Tijani, the Minister, Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, released the results of the 2024 poll titled: “Proposed Social Media Age Regulation in Nigeria,” at a roundtable on Protection of Children Online held in Lagos on Thursday.
The roundtable was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Presenting the survey findings, the Senior Special Adviser to the Minister, Kasim Sodangi, said that the comprehensive public consultation survey captured the views of 585 Nigerians on the regulation of children’s access to social media platforms.
He said that the survey covered risks, legal frameworks, enforcement, and the path forward.
Quoting the survey document, Sodangi said that Australia recently implemented a total ban on social media for children under 16, and a clear majority (83.4 per cent) of the respondents of the poll in Nigeria also supported regulation of children’s social media use.
He said that of this majority, 64.8 per cent supported outright regulation of children’s social media use, while
18.6 per cent supported regulation but preferred a different minimum age threshold.
The survey showed that 64.5 per cent of respondents favoured a minimum social media age of 16 years or 17 years, above the widely adopted global threshold of 13.
“Of the 583 respondents who answered this question, 98.6 per cent identified as Nigerian, with only 1.4 per cent identifying as Non-Nigerian.
“This near-total Nigerian representation ensures that the survey results authentically reflect the perspectives of those most directly affected by any proposed social media age regulation in Nigeria.
“The findings of this poll are grounded in the lived experiences and concerns of Nigerian citizens, making the data highly relevant for domestic policy formulation,” the minister’s side said.
He noted that an overwhelming majority (93.5 per cent) expressed high or extreme concern about the safety of children (under 18) on social media platforms in Nigeria
Sodangi said that of the 93.5 per cent respondents, 405 respondents (69.2 per cent) expressed extreme concern, while 142 respondents (24.3 per cent) are highly concerned.
The special adviser said that the survey showed that the most prevalent online risks for Nigerian children was exposure to harmful or inappropriate content (90.9%), followed closely by digital addiction (83.6%) and online grooming (82.4%).
The survey, he said, signalled an urgent need for protective regulation, adding that 74.5 per cent believed children and parents lacked adequate awareness of legal implications associated with cyber offences.
The survey further revealed overwhelming support for a duty-of-care framework, with 97.6 per cent backing proactive measures by platforms to prevent harm.
Speaking, the Minister, Bosun Tijani, said the fast-changing digital ecosystem demanded constant adaptation of laws, policies and safeguards to address emerging threats facing children online.
According to him, while social media offers learning and innovation opportunities, children must be protected from harmful content, exploitation and other digital risks.
The minister said: “The debate should focus on implementing age restrictions effectively rather than questioning the need for such safeguards.
” Nigeria can deploy digital identity infrastructure and existing platform verification systems to strengthen enforcement of age-based social media regulations.
“The fact that some people may bypass regulations is not a reason for safeguards not to exist.”
He added that protecting children online required coordinated efforts by government, parents, digital platforms and other stakeholders.
Also, the NDPC National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, warned that children faced increasing threats across digital platforms and online environments.
He identified cyberbullying, cyberstalking, harmful content exposure and mental health concerns as some of the major risks confronting children online.
Olatunji said internet access remained essential for education and development but must be balanced with effective safeguards protecting children from harm.
He described child online safety as a shared responsibility involving government agencies, parents, schools, communities and digital platform operators.
According to him, any changes to age-related regulations should follow broad stakeholder consultations and established legislative processes.
Participants called for stronger digital literacy programmes, improved age-verification systems, enhanced parental guidance and greater accountability from digital platforms.
