The Guyanese Government will launch a nationwide public consultation in January as it looks for ways to address growing concerns over the abuse of social media and its impact on children and families.
According to a report by Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI), President Dr Irfaan Ali said the initiative is intended to gather public input rather than impose blanket restrictions, as policymakers consider how best to respond to harmful and excessive online activity.
Speaking during an engagement with journalists and students at the Courtyard Railway on December 30, President Ali said the consultation process would help shape policies that reflect local realities and social norms.
“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.”
Ali said a specialised team is already being put in place to guide the process, noting that he is personally reviewing international case studies from countries such as Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and across the European Union.
He said the challenges associated with misinformation and excessive social media use are now global, pointing to the United Nations’ warning about what it has described as a pandemic of misinformation and disinformation.
“Social media is not the problem,” Ali said. “It is the abuse of social media.”
The president said he has heard from hundreds of parents during the recent holiday period who are concerned about their children spending long hours online, often late into the night. He recounted one parent’s experience of confiscating a device at midnight, only to later discover the child had quietly retrieved it while the household slept.
“As parents, we all face the challenge of managing screen time,” he said.
Ali also referenced a recent visit to Silicon Valley in California, where he said senior technology executives acknowledged the risks of prolonged screen exposure and often limit or ban device use for their own children.
He stressed that enforcement alone would not solve the problem, arguing instead for education, consultation and shared responsibility.
“We want families, young people, churches and communities to be involved in helping us come up with the best possible solution,” the president said.
Guyana’s move comes as several countries consider legislation to curb children’s access to social media. Denmark, New Zealand and France are among those examining similar measures, following stricter approaches already implemented in Australia and China.
In Australia, laws introduced late last year require social media platforms to restrict access for children under 16, with companies facing significant penalties for non-compliance. In China, children are limited to one hour of online gaming on weekends and holidays, while access to social media platforms for under-18s is also tightly controlled.
President Ali said feedback from the upcoming consultations will guide government action, ensuring any measures introduced are balanced, inclusive and focused on protecting children while strengthening social well-being in an increasingly digital society.
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