More than four in five Nigerians support some form of regulation on children's use of social media, according to a government-backed survey released by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

The survey found that 83.4% of respondents supported regulating children's access to social media platforms, reflecting growing concerns about online safety and digital wellbeing among young users. Of those surveyed, 64.8% supported direct regulation, while 18.6% favored restrictions but preferred different age thresholds.

The findings also showed that 64.5% of respondents supported setting the minimum social media age at 16 or 17 years, higher than the commonly used global benchmark of 13 years.

According to the survey, concerns about children's online safety remain widespread, with 93.5% of respondents expressing high or extreme concern about the risks young people face on social media. Exposure to harmful content, digital addiction, and online grooming were identified as the leading threats.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the rapid evolution of digital platforms requires stronger safeguards to protect children while still allowing them to benefit from online learning and innovation opportunities.

The survey results come as Nigeria continues consultations on possible child online safety policies, including age restrictions, improved verification systems, and greater accountability for social media platforms.