Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the Nigerian government to consider restricting access to social media for children under the age of 16, citing growing global concerns over the impact of digital platforms on young people.
Falana made the call on Saturday in Lagos while speaking at the maiden edition of the Dare2Debate competition, an initiative aimed at nurturing leadership, critical thinking and public speaking skills among secondary school students through structured debates.
As a special guest at the event, Falana stressed the need for protective measures to safeguard the well-being of children in an era increasingly shaped by digital interactions. He noted that the debate over young people’s access to social media is ongoing worldwide, with several countries already taking decisive steps.
According to him, some nations have introduced age-based restrictions to limit minors’ exposure to the risks associated with social media use. He referenced Australia as an example, noting that the country has implemented a policy barring individuals under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
The Dare2Debate initiative, through its flagship programme, Think, Speak, and Lead, seeks to groom the next generation of leaders by equipping students with intellectual discipline and effective communication skills.
