• Draft law would restrict access to major platforms for minors under 16

• Nearly half of schoolchildren already use digital services, often unsupervised

• Move reflects a broader push across Africa to regulate youth online activity

Rwanda prepares new rules to tighten control over how minors use social media, as concerns grow over the impact of online content on children.

On April 29, Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire said the draft law under review would bar children under 16 from accessing digital platforms. The measure would target services such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, preventing minors from creating accounts or viewing content.

Enforcement would rely on cooperation between internet service providers, digital platforms, and parents. Authorities are also considering the use of a national digital ID system to verify users’ ages.

The proposal is based on findings that highlight the scale of the issue. A national study shows that 46% of schoolchildren already access digital services through mobile phones, often without parental supervision. At the same time, between 30% and 35% of students report problems linked to social media use, including attention difficulties and anxiety tied to online content.

The initiative builds on an existing regulatory framework. Rwanda adopted a national child online protection policy in 2025, aimed at strengthening content monitoring and expanding cooperation with platforms and service providers to limit harmful material. The country also enforces cybersecurity and data protection laws that include provisions for minors under 16.

A growing regulatory trend across Africa

Rwanda’s plan reflects a wider shift across the continent, as governments move to better regulate minors’ access to digital platforms. In Gabon, authorities recently introduced rules setting a minimum age of 16 for social media use, backed by stricter identity checks. Zimbabwe is considering similar restrictions for users under 18, while Nigeria has launched public consultations on possible age limits.

Other countries, including Egypt, are also exploring regulatory approaches to protect children from harmful online content. These efforts are part of broader coordination initiatives led in part by the African Union to improve child safety online.

Samira Njoya