The concerns were raised at Caustival 2026 during discussions following the screening of Click, Bait, Repeat, a short film by Gatefield that examined online abuse and gaps in protections for children and other vulnerable internet users. Speakers argued that current efforts are insufficient to address the risks of harassment, exploitation and harmful content faced by many users online.
Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Director for Africa at Luminate, argued that children’s safety should be embedded into the design of online platforms rather than treated as an afterthought.
“The internet we should aspire to has been intentionally designed to support the child,” she said, noting that the dissonance between how children are perceived and how digital spaces currently function.
“When we see children, we see innocence, but the internet we have right now does not serve that purpose. The internet I’d like to see has been intentionally designed to support a child to learn, connect and play in a healthy and protected space”, she added.
The calls come amid a growing global shift toward stronger regulation of digital platforms and greater protections for young users online. Governments in jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Brazil, and the U.S. state of California have increasingly moved beyond awareness campaigns to impose direct child safety obligations on technology companies, reflecting a broader consensus that platform design and accountability are central to protecting children online.
Currently, 79% of Nigerian children report feeling unsafe online, with many also exposed to sexual exploitation risks, highlighting an urgent need for safeguards that prioritise children’s wellbeing in digital environments.
According to Gatefield’s 2025 State of Online Harms Report, 31% of harmful content reported by users in Nigeria was never removed by platforms, underscoring the need for stronger accountability mechanisms.
Also speaking, Jola Ayeye, host of popular culture podcast ISaidWhatISaid, emphasised the Nigerian government’s responsibility to safeguard the public interest in digital spaces.
“The job of the government is not to help wealthy tech companies get wealthier. It’s to ensure a safe internet for young people to exist in”, Ayeye said.
Participants argued that online violence carries significant social, economic, and psychological consequences, limiting opportunities for women while weakening inclusive participation in civic and democratic processes.
