Rwanda is planning a new law that could stop children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The idea is to protect young people from harmful content online and reduce problems linked to too much screen time. The government says children are using the internet more than ever, often without proper supervision.
The Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, said the law is still being prepared with help from different institutions. Studies show that many schoolchildren in Rwanda use mobile phones to go online. In most cases, they use their parents’ phones, which makes it harder to control what they watch or read.
There are also concerns about mental health and school performance. Some students are experiencing anxiety and finding it hard to focus in class because of too much time spent on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
“In many households, children tend to have more digital knowledge than their parents or guardians, who may not fully understand what the children are accessing, and these are the issues we want to tackle,” Ingabire said.
She also explained how social media affects learning. “Content on digital platforms is often designed to be highly engaging, encouraging prolonged use and making it difficult for children to refocus once they return to traditional learning environments,” she said.
“This, in turn, reduces their attention span in class, and some students end up struggling with schoolwork because they are unable to sustain concentration for long periods.” The government says the new law is part of a bigger plan to create a safer online space for children. However, Ingabire said parents also have a big role to play.
“If parents do not understand and align with these efforts, it will be difficult to move forward,” she said.
She added that Rwanda is learning from other countries that already have similar rules. “Although Rwanda has not yet reached that stage, we are prepared to take firm action where necessary. We will not remain passive on this issue. We will act, even if some parents may be reluctant to accept that these measures are meant to protect their own children,” she said.
The government says it still wants to grow in technology, but in a safe way for children. “We are still a country striving to expand in terms of technology, but we are doing so in a way that minimizes the negative impacts associated with it,” Ingabire said.
If passed, the law will mark an important step in protecting children while Rwanda continues to grow in the digital world.
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10
