– stakeholders to help shape framework for online safety, digital well-being

THE Government of Guyana on Tuesday launched a national consultation aimed at examining the impact of social media on children and developing a framework to better protect young users in the country’s rapidly expanding digital environment.
The consultation, coordinated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on behalf of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations, schools, parent groups, technology stakeholders and child protection advocates.
The initiative seeks to gather recommendations that will guide future policies, legislation and public education efforts focused on online safety and digital wellbeing.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira emphasised that the exercise is not intended to hinder technological advancement, but rather to ensure that children are protected from the risks associated with social media and digital platforms.
While acknowledging the important role technology plays in education, communication and development, Teixeira said it has also introduced significant challenges for children and young people.
“Digital advancement and child safety are not competing priorities. They are objectives that must be pursued together to build a resilient, inclusive and safe future for our children,” Teixeira said.
She pointed to growing concerns surrounding cyberbullying, online exploitation, exposure to harmful content, misinformation, excessive screen time and the impact of social media on children’s mental health and cognitive development.
According to the minister, the consultation was initiated following discussions at the Cabinet level after President Ali raised concerns about the increasing influence of social media on children and the need for proactive responses.

Teixeira urged participants to return to their respective organisations and submit recommendations that could help shape a national framework for child online safety.
Among the proposals currently under consideration are restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 16, mandatory age-verification systems, stronger parental controls, enhanced platform accountability and digital literacy programmes in schools.
She noted that several countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Denmark and China, have already introduced measures aimed at protecting children online.

Teixeira stressed, however, that safeguarding children in the digital age requires a collective effort involving governments, families, educators, technology companies and communities.
“This consultation is the beginning of a broader national conversation,” she said.
Last December, President Ali, who first announced plans for the initiative during an engagement with journalists and students, repeatedly stressed that the exercise is not about restricting social media but about developing balanced, evidence-based solutions.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘restricting’ social media,” the President said. “I want the consultation to tell us what we should do.”
He revealed that a dedicated team has already been assembled and that international case studies from Australia, Germany, the European Union and the United Kingdom are being examined as Guyana explores policy options suited to its own social and cultural context.
The President also highlighted the growing global concern surrounding misinformation and disinformation, noting that the United Nations has described the issue as a worldwide challenge.
“Social media is not the problem,” President Ali said. “It is the abuse of social media.”
He recalled hearing concerns from hundreds of parents about children spending excessive amounts of time online, often throughout the night and into the following day.
The President recounted one parent’s experience of confiscating a device at midnight only to discover hours later that the child had quietly retrieved it.
“As parents, we all face the challenge of managing screen time,” he said.
Drawing on discussions held during a visit to Silicon Valley, California, President Ali noted that even senior technology executives have acknowledged the risks associated with excessive screen exposure, with many imposing strict limits on their own children’s use of digital devices.
“That tells us that everyone recognises this is a real problem,” he said.
The President stressed that enforcement alone cannot solve the issue and pointed instead to consultation, education and shared responsibility as the foundation for any effective policy response.
“We want families, young people, churches and communities to be involved in helping us come up with the best possible solution,” President Ali said.