Prominent Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua has weighed in on the recent decision by the United Kingdom to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16, suggesting Kenya could consider adopting a similar approach.
According to reports from British political media, the House of Lords has voted in support of a proposal seeking to ban minors below 16 years from using social media platforms in Great Britain. The move has already ignited debate across different countries.
Reacting to the development, Karua expressed support for the idea, noting that such a policy could be worth exploring in Kenya as part of broader efforts to protect children online.
Currently, Kenya does not have a law that completely prohibits minors from accessing social media.
Instead, platforms rely on age declarations to regulate content visibility and user experience, a system that critics argue is easy to bypass and ineffective in shielding young users from harmful material.
Karua’s remarks have reopened discussion on whether a stricter legal framework is necessary to regulate minors’ digital exposure. Supporters of a ban argue that it would help protect children from inappropriate content, online exploitation, cyberbullying, and mental health risks linked to excessive social media use.
However, critics warn that such a restriction could limit young people’s access to educational resources, online collaboration, and opportunities to build digital literacy skills that are increasingly essential in today’s world.
As expected, the proposal is likely to divide opinion among Kenyans, with parents, educators, policymakers, and digital rights activists holding differing views on how best to balance online safety and access to information.
The debate now shifts to whether Kenya should follow the UK’s lead or focus on strengthening existing online safety measures rather than enforcing an outright ban.
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