The Federal Government has begun consultations on plans to introduce age restrictions for social media use as part of efforts to strengthen online safety for children in Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that as part of the initiative, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has launched a public poll to gather views from parents, educators, young people and digital experts on how children’s access to social media and other digital platforms should be regulated.
According to the ministry, the consultation is intended to help develop a balanced and evidence-based policy framework that protects children from online threats while preserving the educational and social benefits of internet access.
The ministry said although the internet offers valuable opportunities for learning, creativity and communication, it also exposes children to several risks.
The move comes amid a rise in telephone users and increasing time spent online, largely driven by growing smartphone adoption and the expansion of mobile broadband networks.
Last year, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) reported that more than 40 million Nigerians spend an average of six hours daily on social media.
The commission stressed the need for greater awareness about data privacy and the dangers of sharing personal information on digital platforms.
Meanwhile, new subscription data released in January 2026 showed that telecom operators activated or reactivated about 2.58 million Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), increasing active telephone users from 179.6 million at the end of last year to about 182 million.
The data also indicated that narrowband internet users rose to 151.5 million, while broadband penetration reached 53 per cent, representing about 115 million users, mainly enterprises.
On the proposed social media restrictions, the ministry said children face a range of online risks, including cyberbullying, 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.
Commenting on the survey via a post on his X handle, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the government is working to ensure stronger protection for children as internet adoption continues to expand.
“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.
He added that public participation would be crucial in shaping policies that strike a balance between digital access and safeguards 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.
If implemented, Nigeria would join countries such as Denmark, France and Australia that have introduced measures aimed at improving child safety on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) also showed a slight decline in data consumption during the period under review, dropping from 1.386 million terabytes in December 2025 to 1.385 million terabytes in January.
In terms of network deployment, 4G dominated with 53.41 per cent, followed by 2G with 36.97 per cent, 3G with 5.97 per cent and 5G at 3.94 per cent.
The NCC noted that MTN Nigeria remained the largest telecom operator in the country with 94 million users and a market share of 51.78 per cent. Airtel Nigeria ranked second with about 62 million users and 34 per cent penetration, while Globacom had 22.5 million subscribers, representing 12.3 per cent of the market. 9mobile (now T2) accounted for 3.25 million users and a 1.79 per cent share.
In a related development, TikTok announced an additional $200,000 in advertising credits to support artificial intelligence media literacy initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The announcement was made in Nairobi, Kenya, during the third Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit.
TikTok’s Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Tokunbo Ibrahim, said the investment aims to support local organisations working to expand public understanding of artificial intelligence and strengthen media literacy across the region.
He added that the initiative reflects TikTok’s commitment to educating users on how to responsibly interact with artificial intelligence technologies.
