Child Rights International (CRI) has called for an immediate ban on social media access for children under the age of 17, warning that excessive screen time, unrestricted internet access and growing exposure to harmful online content are placing Ghanaian children at significant risk of exploitation, abuse and long-term developmental harm.
The organisation is urging the government to legislate and enforce strict age restrictions on social media platforms operating in Ghana, backed by robust age-verification systems and sanctions for non-compliance.
The recommendation forms part of findings from a new study commissioned by Child Rights International and presented by its Executive Director, Bright Appiah, who said the country must act urgently to safeguard children in an increasingly digital environment.
80% of children spend up to 7 hours daily on screens
According to Mr Appiah, the study revealed alarming levels of screen use among children aged between five and 12 years, with approximately 80% spending between two and seven hours daily on screens, often without adequate parental supervision.
He explained that mobile phones have become the primary gateway to the internet for many children because of their portability and accessibility, exposing them to a range of online dangers.
Mr Appiah warned that many children are accessing social media platforms and other online spaces without effective age-verification measures, allowing them to encounter inappropriate and potentially dangerous content.
Widespread exposure to harmful content
According to the study, many children are being exposed to explicit sexual content, inappropriate messages and online invitations from strangers.
Mr Appiah said unrestricted internet access is creating pathways for children to encounter material that is unsuitable for their age and level of emotional development.
The situation is worsened when children use mobile phones belonging to adults.
He explained that recommendation algorithms often rely on the browsing history of adult users, resulting in children being exposed to adult-oriented advertisements, videos and content despite parental efforts to control access.
“The use of adult devices significantly increases children’s vulnerability because online platforms continue to recommend content based on previous adult activity,” Mr Appiah said.
Growing threat of online exploitation
The study further identified increasing risks of online grooming, cyberbullying and sexual exploitation.
According to Mr Appiah, children with unrestricted internet access are becoming easier targets for online predators who use social media, messaging applications and gaming platforms to establish contact with minors.
He noted that exposure to sexual content and inappropriate interactions at an early age can have lasting psychological consequences and distort children’s understanding of healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
To address the challenge, CRI is calling for stronger collaboration among child protection agencies, law enforcement institutions, internet service providers and digital platforms to detect, report and respond swiftly to cases of online child abuse.
Impact on child development
Beyond safety concerns, the study highlighted the developmental consequences of excessive screen time.
Mr Appiah said prolonged engagement with digital devices is reducing children’s participation in outdoor play, face-to-face interaction with peers and meaningful family engagement.
He warned that if current trends continue, family communication and socialisation could deteriorate significantly over the next decade.
The study also linked excessive screen use to emotional distress, social isolation and increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression.
According to Mr Appiah, children who spend long periods online often miss critical opportunities to develop social skills, emotional intelligence and healthy interpersonal relationships.
Parents must take responsibility
While calling for stronger regulation, Child Rights International stressed that parents and caregivers also have a critical role to play.
Mr Appiah urged parents to make greater use of parental controls, content filters and age restrictions available on digital devices and online platforms.
He also encouraged families to establish clear limits on screen time and engage children in regular discussions about online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The study found that many parents lack the digital literacy required to effectively monitor their children’s online activities, leaving children vulnerable to online risks.
Need for a national response
Mr Appiah said Ghana has made significant progress in expanding digital access and technological opportunities for children, but these gains must be accompanied by stronger safeguards.
He called for a coordinated national response involving government agencies, schools, parents, technology companies and civil society organisations.
According to him, technology offers enormous educational and developmental benefits, but those benefits can only be fully realised when children are protected from harmful content, cyber abuse and online exploitation.
“Without effective safeguards, children remain vulnerable to harmful content, online sexual exploitation, cyber abuse and the adverse effects of excessive screen time. We must act now to ensure technology is a force for good in every child’s life,” Mr Appiah said.
The findings come amid growing international concern over children’s use of social media, with several countries considering or implementing stricter age restrictions as governments seek to address rising concerns about mental health, online safety and digital well-being among young people.
Global situation
Several countries have already introduced, or are moving toward introducing, restrictions on children’s access to social media as concerns grow over online safety, mental health, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.
The global trend shows policymakers increasingly favouring stricter age-verification systems, parental consent requirements and outright bans for younger users as governments seek to protect children from online harms.
Australia
Australia has taken the most far-reaching step by introducing the world’s first nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, with the restrictions taking effect from December 2025. The law requires major social media platforms to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
Indonesia
Indonesia has also moved aggressively, introducing restrictions in 2026 that prevent children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms unless strict conditions are met.
Malaysia
Malaysia has implemented age-verification requirements and restrictions for users under 16 as part of efforts to strengthen online child protection.
France
France requires parental consent for social media users under 15 and is considering even tougher restrictions amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.
China
China operates one of the world’s strictest digital safety regimes for minors, including screen-time limits, content controls and a special “Minor Mode” that restricts children’s online activities and access to certain content.
Several other countries are also moving toward stricter controls.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the government has proposed a sweeping ban on social media use by children under 16, targeting platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat while seeking to restrict potentially harmful features including livestreaming.
Spain
Spain is considering a ban on social media use for children under 16, while Greece plans to introduce restrictions for children under 15 from 2027.
Poland
Poland is drafting legislation to prohibit social media access for children under 15, and Slovenia is preparing similar measures.
Austria
Austria is discussing restrictions for children up to age 14, while Turkey has already passed legislation restricting access for children under 15, with the law awaiting final approval.
Denmark
In Denmark, major political parties have reached broad agreement in principle on banning social media access for children under 15.
United States
The United States has not introduced a nationwide ban, but several states have enacted their own restrictions.
In Florida, children under 14 are prohibited from holding social media accounts, while 14- and 15-year-olds require parental consent.
Utah has also introduced parental consent requirements and additional safeguards for minors using social media platforms.
The growing number of countries adopting or considering restrictions reflects an emerging international consensus that stronger safeguards are needed to protect children from online exploitation, harmful content, cyberbullying, excessive screen time and the mental health risks associated with prolonged social media use.
