The Federal Government has begun consultations on plans to introduce age restrictions on social media use as part of efforts to protect children from online risks while preserving the benefits of digital connectivity.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has launched a public poll seeking input from parents, teachers, young people and digital experts on how best to regulate children’s access to social media and other digital platforms.
According to the ministry, the initiative aims to develop a balanced, evidence-based policy framework that safeguards minors from online harm while ensuring they can still benefit from the educational and social opportunities provided by the Internet.
Announcing the move on Tuesday, the ministry said that although the Internet offers valuable opportunities for learning, creativity and communication, it also exposes children to several dangers.
These include cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online grooming, misuse of personal data, addictive platform features and emerging threats linked to artificial intelligence tools.
“As Nigeria evaluates possible policy options, it is important that any approach reflects national priorities, respects children’s rights, and responds effectively to the realities of the country’s digital landscape,” the ministry stated.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, also emphasised the need to strengthen safeguards for children as Internet adoption continues to expand across the country.
“While the Internet offers significant opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence tools,” Tijani said.
According to him, public participation will play a crucial role in shaping policies that strike a balance between digital access and adequate protection for minors.
“As Nigeria evaluates potential policy approaches for protection of children online, including age restrictions, improved age verification systems, platform accountability measures, and enhanced regulatory oversight, public input is essential to ensure that any framework adopted reflects national priorities and respects children’s rights,” he said.
The move comes amid a steady increase in Internet usage nationwide, driven largely by the rapid adoption of smartphones and the expansion of mobile broadband networks.
Data from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) last year showed that more than 40 million Nigerians spend an average of six hours daily on social media platforms. The commission has repeatedly warned about the risks of sharing personal information online and the need to strengthen data privacy awareness.
Meanwhile, recent industry figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that telecom operators activated or reactivated about 2.58 million Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) cards in January 2026.
The development increased the number of active telephone users in Nigeria from 179.6 million at the end of 2025 to about 182 million in January 2026.
The data also revealed that Internet users on narrowband networks rose to 151.5 million, while broadband penetration climbed to 53 per cent, representing about 115 million users nationwide.
Despite growth in connectivity, overall data consumption declined marginally during the period, from 1.386 million terabytes in December 2025 to 1.385 million terabytes in January.
In terms of network deployment, fourth-generation (4G) technology remained dominant, accounting for 53.41 per cent of usage, followed by 2G at 36.97 per cent, 3G at 5.97 per cent, and 5G at 3.94 per cent.
The NCC data further showed that MTN Nigeria remained the largest telecom operator in the country with about 94 million subscribers and a market share of 51.78 per cent.
Airtel Nigeria ranked second with roughly 62 million users and about 34 per cent market penetration, while Globacom recorded 22.5 million subscribers, representing 12.3 per cent of the market. 9mobile, now operating as T2, maintained about 3.25 million subscribers and a 1.79 per cent share.
If implemented, the proposed social media age restrictions would place Nigeria among countries such as France, Denmark and Australia, which have introduced measures to strengthen child safety on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
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