Bright Appiah
Child-focused advocacy organisation, Child Rights International (CRI), has called on the government to introduce legislation restricting access to social media platforms for children below the age of 17, arguing that the country’s digital environment has become increasingly unsafe for young users.
The call follows a new study which raises alarm over a growing digital crisis facing Ghanaian children, warning that excessive screen time, unrestricted access to social media and increasing exposure to sexual content are placing children at risk.
Findings of the rapid assessment conducted among children aged between five and 12 years, paint a troubling picture of children’s online habits and vulnerabilities in an era of expanding internet access and smartphone use.
According to the report, about 80 per cent of respondents reported spending between two and seven hours daily on digital devices, mainly mobile phones and tablets, often with little or no parental supervision.
The study also found that many children now have unrestricted access to social media platforms, websites and online applications, allowing them to navigate the internet without effective age-verification systems or adequate adult oversight.
The Executive Director of CRI, Bright Appiah, who signed the statement, said the findings highlighted growing concerns about children’s exposure to harmful online content and digital risks.
Sexual Content And Exploitation Risks
One of the most disturbing findings of the study he noted was the growing exposure of children to online sexual content and exploitation risks.
He said the report identified sexual invitations, inappropriate messages and exposure to sexually explicit material as among the most common harmful experiences encountered by children in digital spaces.
“The risks of online sexual exploitation continue to increase and mirror developments already recorded in other countries where concerns over online child abuse have intensified,” he said.
Mr. Appiah further noted that researchers found that children frequently encounter unsolicited content through online advertisements, pop-ups, social media recommendations and gaming platforms.
“The risk becomes even greater when children use devices belonging to adults, where algorithms driven by the browsing habits of parents and caregivers can inadvertently push age-inappropriate material directly onto children’s screens,” he added.
Developmental Concerns
Beyond online safety concerns, the report warned of significant developmental and social consequences associated with prolonged screen use.
Children who spend longer hours on screens, the research found, participate less in outdoor activities, have fewer opportunities for peer interaction and experience less meaningful family engagement than children whose screen exposure is lower.
Mr. Appiah thus cautioned that unrestricted access to digital platforms increases children’s vulnerability to online grooming, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
“Exposure to inappropriate sexual content at an early age can have lasting psychological and emotional consequences,” he stated.
Mr. Appiah added that such exposure could distort children’s understanding of healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
He also expressed concern about what it described as a widening digital supervision gap, arguing that many parents and caregivers lack the knowledge, skills and technological tools required to effectively monitor children’s online activities.
The Executive Director of CRI further estimated that within the next decade children could cease to have meaningful family conversations, leading to a breakdown in traditional family socialisation structures.
Recommendations
To address the growing threat, CRI is calling for tougher regulation of children’s access to social media and digital platforms.
Among its key recommendations is legislation restricting access to social media platforms for persons below the age of 17, supported by mandatory age-verification systems and penalties for non-compliance.
The organisation also urged parents and caregivers to make greater use of parental controls, content filters and age-restriction settings while establishing clear screen-time limits and maintaining regular discussions with children about responsible online behaviour.
Additionally, CRI called for stronger collaboration among child protection agencies, law enforcement institutions and internet service providers to improve the detection, reporting and investigation of online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
While acknowledging the educational and developmental benefits of technology, the organisation stressed that digital access should not be denied to children but must be accompanied by robust child protection safeguards.
“The benefits of digital technology must be balanced with robust child protection measures,” CRI stated.
The organisation warned that without stronger protections, children will remain vulnerable to harmful content, online sexual exploitation, cyber abuse and the adverse effects of excessive screen time.
A Daily Guide Report