A majority of members of the public have rejected a proposal by the President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Rashid Ibrahim, for a ban on social media use by children below 15 years.
Mr Ibrahim has argued that unrestricted access to social media exposes children to inappropriate content that could negatively affect their behaviour and moral development.
He has therefore called for a ban on social media use among children under the age of 15.
However, speaking to Hot FM reporter Ethel Amoah, most members of the public disagreed with the proposal, arguing that social media has become an important platform for learning and skills development.
According to them, social media can serve as a new classroom, allowing children to acquire knowledge and develop skills beyond what is taught in the traditional classroom.
Some respondents also pointed out that social media provides young people with opportunities to discover, develop and showcase their talents in areas including art, dance and music.
Others maintained that social media can be beneficial to children when it is used responsibly and for educational purposes.
They argued that rather than imposing an outright ban, parents and guardians should guide children on how to use social media appropriately and help them avoid harmful content.
However, one respondent supported the NUGS President’s proposal, insisting that children below 15 years should be prohibited from using social media because of the potential negative effects of unrestricted access.
The divergent views come amid growing discussions over how best to protect children online while ensuring that they can benefit from the educational and creative opportunities offered by social media.
