Federal Government says proposed measures will strengthen online safety and protect Nigerian children from digital risks.
The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce regulated internet access for children below the age of 16 as part of broader measures aimed at strengthening the protection of Nigerian children in the digital environment.
The proposed measure is expected to address growing concerns over children’s exposure to harmful online content, cyberbullying, online exploitation and other risks associated with unrestricted access to digital platforms.
The government said the initiative forms part of efforts to create a safer online environment for children while ensuring that young Nigerians can benefit from technology without being unnecessarily exposed to its potential dangers.
With internet and social media use becoming increasingly common among children and teenagers, authorities have raised concerns about the challenges parents and guardians face in monitoring online activities.
Regulated access could involve stronger age-verification requirements, parental controls and other safeguards designed to ensure that children are appropriately protected when using digital services.
The government’s proposed approach also places greater emphasis on the shared responsibility of parents, technology companies, schools and regulatory authorities in protecting children online.
Parents and guardians are expected to play an important role by monitoring their children’s internet use, discussing online safety with them and teaching them how to identify potentially harmful interactions and content.
The move comes amid a wider global debate over how governments and technology companies should balance children’s access to digital resources with the need to protect them from online harm.
For Nigeria, the proposed regulation could represent a significant step towards establishing stronger digital safety standards for children, particularly as internet access continues to expand across the country.
The government is expected to provide further details on how the proposed age restriction would work, including the platforms and services that would be covered and the mechanisms that would be used to verify users’ ages.
The initiative ultimately seeks to ensure that Nigerian children can participate in the digital world in a manner that prioritises their safety, wellbeing and development.
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