By Josephine Sesay
President Julius Maada Bio has announced plans to introduce age-based restrictions on social media use in Sierra Leone, citing the need to protect young people from the harmful effects of unregulated digital access.
The President made the announcement on Wednesday while addressing worshippers during Eid prayers in Freetown.
Speaking on the growing influence of digital platforms, President Bio described social media as a valuable tool for learning and communication but warned that unrestricted access could negatively affect children and teenagers.
“All things are on social media; you can learn, or you can spoil yourself,” he said. “Because our future is in the younger ones, we need to make sure they come out well.”
The President said the proposed restrictions would mainly target minors under the age of 16, stressing that young people should only be granted unrestricted access once they reach a level of maturity that allows them to make responsible decisions online.
According to him, the move is aimed at safeguarding the future of the country’s younger generation and encouraging responsible use of digital platforms.
President Bio also referenced international efforts to regulate children’s access to social media, citing measures already implemented in Australia and ongoing debates in the United Kingdom.
“Australia has done it. The United Kingdom is debating it because they are seeing the impact of social media,” he stated.
Beyond concerns relating to minors, the President criticised what he described as increasing addiction to smartphones among adults, noting that excessive use of social media is affecting productivity, parenting, and social interaction.
“There are many adults with social media that cannot do anything good because their attention is buried inside that phone, that they cannot pay attention to their child or the work they should do,” he remarked.
President Bio concluded by urging citizens to prepare for future regulations, reaffirming his commitment to formally introduce measures to control social media use among certain age groups in Sierra Leone.
The proposed policy is expected to generate public debate on child protection, digital rights, and responsible internet usage as social media continues to play a growing role in society.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 1st June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
