A survey by the Federal Ministry of Communication Innovation and Digital Economy has revealed that over four in five Nigerians support some form of social media regulation for children.

Communications minister Bosun Tijani released the results of the 2024 poll titled ‘Proposed Social Media Age Regulation in Nigeria’, at a roundtable on the protection of children online held in Lagos on Thursday. The roundtable was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

Presenting the survey findings, the senior special adviser to the minister, Kasim Sodangi, said the comprehensive public consultation survey captured the views of 585 Nigerians on regulating 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, Mr Sodangi said that Australia recently implemented a total ban on social media for children under 16, and that a clear majority (83.4 per cent) of respondents in Nigeria also supported regulating 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 great or extreme concern about the safety of children (under 18) on social media platforms in Nigeria.

Mr Sodangi said that of the 93.5 per cent of respondents, 405 (69.2 per cent) expressed extreme concern, while 142 (24.3 per cent) were highly concerned.

The special adviser said that the survey showed that the most prevalent online risks for Nigerian children were 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 the legal implications of 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.

Mr 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 opportunities for learning and innovation, children must be protected from harmful content, exploitation, and other digital risks.

(NAN)