Network of Peace Journalists Urges African Governments to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 16

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

The Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ) has called on African governments to introduce legislation restricting children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, arguing that stronger regulations are needed to protect minors from online harm.

In a statement issued in Kaduna, the organisation’s Team Leader, Ibrahima Yakubu, said unrestricted social media access has contributed to cyberbullying, online exploitation, exposure to harmful content, excessive screen time and mental health concerns among children and teenagers.

Yakubu urged African governments to adopt stronger age-verification measures and enact laws requiring social media companies to prevent underage access, citing policy measures introduced or proposed in countries including Australia, France, Spain and Norway.

He also called for greater investment in digital literacy programmes to educate children, parents and teachers on responsible internet use and online safety. “Schools should incorporate digital citizenship and online safety into their curricula,” Yakubu said.

The NPJ further urged parents and guardians to monitor children’s online activities, set appropriate screen-time limits and encourage educational and recreational alternatives to excessive social media use.The organisation also appealed to religious institutions, civil society groups, traditional rulers and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns on online safety.

According to Yakubu, protecting children online requires collaboration among governments, families, educators, technology companies and communities while ensuring young people can access digital technology in a safe and age-appropriate manner.