Parents Petition Parliament to Ban Social Media Access for Minors, Cite Growing Online Risks

Parents and concerned citizens have called on Parliament to introduce tougher measures regulating children's access to social-media platforms, warning that unrestricted use of the platforms is exposing minors to harmful content, cyberbullying, addiction and other emerging online dangers.

Speaking at the Eldoret Media Hub in Eldoret on Friday, the petitioners said there was an urgent need for the government, parents, schools and technology companies to work together to protect children from what they described as the growing negative effects of social media.

The petitioners, who have submitted a petition to the National Assembly, are seeking stronger restrictions on social-media access by children below the age of 18. They want Parliament to consider legislation that would require social-media platforms to verify the ages of their users and prevent minors from accessing age-restricted services.

According to the petition, the growing use of platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and Telegram has created new challenges for parents and schools, particularly as children spend increasing amounts of time online.

The petitioners said some minors are being exposed to inappropriate content, online harassment, cyberbullying and social-media groups that can negatively influence their behaviour and academic performance.

They also expressed concern over the emergence of social-media groups and chat threads involving school-going children, arguing that some of these platforms are being used to share inappropriate material and facilitate harmful interactions among students.

The group said parents are increasingly finding it difficult to monitor what their children see and who they communicate with online, especially as social-media platforms continue to introduce new features that allow users to communicate privately and anonymously.

The petitioners further raised concerns about the influence of social media on students' concentration and academic performance.

They argued that excessive use of social-media platforms can consume valuable study time and interfere with students' ability to concentrate on their education. They called for greater parental and institutional oversight of children's online activities.

Concerns over mental health

Mental health was also highlighted as one of the major concerns driving the petition.

The petitioners said children are increasingly under pressure to accumulate likes, followers and views on social-media platforms, with some minors becoming emotionally affected when their online content fails to attract the attention they expect.

They cited cases where children may spend long periods online seeking approval and recognition from other users, warning that such behaviour could contribute to emotional distress and negatively affect their mental wellbeing.

The petitioners also raised concerns over social-media addiction, online harassment and cyberbullying, saying these challenges require urgent intervention before they become more difficult to address.

They said the amount of information children encounter online can also expose them to content that is unsuitable for their age.

Drug and vaping content

The petitioners also expressed alarm over what they described as the increasing exposure of young people to content promoting vaping, drug use and other potentially harmful behaviour.

They specifically pointed to electronic cigarettes and vaping products, saying social-media platforms can make such products appear attractive to young people through videos, advertisements and influencer content.

They called for stronger monitoring of content creators and advertisers who may promote products or behaviour that is unsuitable for minors.

The petitioners argued that some content creators prioritise views, followers and popularity without adequately considering the age of their audiences or the possible consequences of the content they publish.

They want social-media companies to take greater responsibility for protecting children from harmful material circulating on their platforms.

Calls for identification and age verification

One of the key proposals contained in the petition is for social-media platforms to require users to register accounts using government-issued identification documents.

The petitioners propose the use of documents such as national identity cards, passports or government-regulated digital identification systems to help establish the identity and age of users.

They argue that effective age verification would make it more difficult for minors to create accounts on platforms where they are legally or otherwise restricted from accessing certain services.

The petitioners also want social-media companies to verify accounts suspected of belonging to minors and introduce mechanisms that would enable parents or guardians to approve or supervise children's use of the platforms.

They said technology companies should not leave the responsibility of protecting children entirely to parents, arguing that platforms themselves have a role to play in creating safer online environments.

Parents to have greater control

The group also wants parents and guardians to have greater control over their children's social-media activities.

Under the proposals, parents would be able to monitor or approve the registration of accounts belonging to minors and restrict children's access to certain platforms or features.

The petitioners said such measures would give parents additional tools to protect children while recognising that technology is now an important part of education and communication.

They, however, stressed that access to technology should not come at the expense of children's safety and wellbeing.

The petition also calls for social-media providers to deactivate pseudo accounts allegedly used by minors to bypass age restrictions and to carry out regular audits of their platforms to identify underage users.

School groups targeted

The petitioners further want social-media groups and chat threads targeting senior-school students to be scrapped.

They argued that some online groups involving students can become avenues for cyberbullying, inappropriate conversations and the circulation of material that may undermine discipline in schools.

They called on schools, parents and technology companies to work together to ensure that online communication does not interfere with students' education or expose them to harmful material.

The petitioners also want social-media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from opening accounts on services that are restricted to older users.

Parliament urged to act

The petitioners said their proposals are anchored in the constitutional right of Kenyans to petition Parliament on matters within its mandate.

They also referred to Kenya's constitutional and legal framework governing children's rights and education, arguing that the government has an obligation to protect children while ensuring that they enjoy their right to education in a safe environment.

They urged Members of Parliament to give the petition serious consideration and begin discussions on how Kenya can respond to the rapidly changing digital environment.

The group said the issue should not be viewed simply as a question of banning technology, but rather as a need to establish responsible safeguards around children's use of digital platforms.

They acknowledged that social media can provide opportunities for learning, communication and access to information, but argued that children require additional protection because of their age and vulnerability.

The petitioners called for a coordinated approach involving Parliament, government agencies, schools, parents, teachers and social-media companies.

They also want artificial intelligence tools and other emerging technologies to be used to help identify and manage harmful online content targeting school-going children.

As the debate over children's digital safety continues, the petitioners said Parliament has an opportunity to establish clearer rules governing the relationship between minors and social-media companies.

The petition now places the question of children's social-media access firmly before Parliament, with the petitioners insisting that protecting minors online must take priority over the pursuit of views, followers and engagement.