The Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet has begun preliminary discussions on whether children under the age of 16 should face restrictions on social media access, though no formal policy decision has been reached. According to Antigua News Room, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant disclosed the development during Thursday's weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.
Merchant said the issue was raised at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting as part of broader deliberations on the well-being of young people.
"There was also a very brief discussion, but discussions that are expected to continue within the coming weeks and months, of social media and our young people 16 and under," Merchant said.
He was clear that Cabinet has not adopted any policy or taken a formal decision to restrict minors' access to social media platforms. Rather, the government is opening a conversation about whether safeguards should be introduced to better protect children from potentially harmful online content.
"There is no decision on that," Merchant said, adding that deliberations are expected to continue in the weeks and months ahead.
Merchant indicated that Cabinet's primary concern is ensuring that the content being consumed by young people online is appropriate. "The government will be moving towards having a discussion on that issue, ensuring that what they are consuming via social media remains wholesome," he said.
The move comes as governments around the world have been examining measures to limit children's use of social media platforms amid growing concerns over mental health, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and excessive screen time.
Merchant did not specify what form any future restrictions might take or whether legislation is under consideration. He said only that Cabinet's deliberations remain at an early stage and are intended to explore the issue thoroughly before any decisions are made.
