Meta, FG Partner To Boost Online Safety For Nigerian Youth
Meta Strengthens Online Safety Drive for Nigerian Teens, Parents
Youth Safety Summit Brings Stakeholders Together
META has reinforced its commitment to safer online experiences for young Nigerians by unveiling enhanced digital safety features for teenagers and parents during the Nigeria Youth Safety Summit held in Abuja.
The summit, organised in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development at the Transcorp Hilton, brought together government officials, civil society organisations, educators, parents, youth leaders and digital content creators to discuss strategies for improving online safety and digital wellbeing.
Participants explored emerging digital challenges affecting young people while examining ways to strengthen partnerships between technology companies, government institutions and families.
Focus on Teen Accounts and Built-in Protections
At the centre of Meta’s presentation was its Teen Accounts initiative, designed to create age-appropriate online experiences across the company’s platforms.
The accounts automatically activate stronger privacy settings for teenage users, including private profiles, stricter messaging controls, restrictions on sensitive content, and limits on who can tag or mention them.
The platform also includes daily reminders encouraging users to take breaks after one hour of activity, while a sleep mode automatically limits notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
For users below the age of 16, parental approval is required before any of these safety protections can be relaxed.
Parents Receive Greater Supervisory Tools
Meta also showcased expanded parental supervision features aimed at giving families greater oversight of their children’s online activities.
The new tools allow parents to receive notifications whenever their teenagers report inappropriate content, monitor who they communicate with, establish daily time limits for Instagram usage and schedule digital breaks during specific periods.
Parents can also monitor the types of age-appropriate content their children choose to engage with, providing better insight into their online interests.
Government Backs Multi-Stakeholder Approach
Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Sylvia Musalagani, said the company remains committed to building safer digital environments where young people can explore, learn and express themselves responsibly.
She explained that products such as Teen Accounts are designed to address parents’ concerns while helping teenagers develop healthier online habits.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stressed that protecting children online requires collaboration among parents, technology firms and government agencies.
Similarly, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described online safety as a shared national responsibility and urged Meta to expand access to its educational resources across Nigeria.
Collaboration to Improve Digital Wellbeing
The summit featured panel discussions, interactive learning sessions and conversations focused on promoting responsible internet use among young Nigerians.
Participants agreed that sustained collaboration between public institutions, technology companies, schools and families will remain essential in creating safer digital environments while equipping young people with the skills required to navigate the online world responsibly.
