A minimum social media age of 16 is among measures being considered to protect children from online harm under a proposed national framework.
The National Child Online Safety and Ethical Technology Framework also seeks limited access for children aged 13 to 15 through parental consent, and includes measures such as privacy-protected age verification, default private accounts for minors, restrictions on direct messaging and limits on targeted advertising.
Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Joann Bond said the initiative forms part of a national consultation process launched on behalf of President Irfaan Ali to examine the effects of social media on children and guide future policy and legislation.
Chief Justice Navindra Singh, speaking during the consultations, argued that age restrictions should be informed by scientific evidence on brain development, noting that adolescence — particularly between ages 12 and 17 — is a critical period during which young people are more susceptible to peer pressure and reward-seeking behaviour.
Singh stressed that effective regulation would depend heavily on parental involvement and called for an aggressive public education campaign to help parents supervise their children's digital activities.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the issue is part of a broader global challenge in regulating cyberspace. "We want our children to benefit maximally from those types of platforms, but at the same time, we need to insulate them from the dark side of the web," he said.
Guyana is examining approaches adopted in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, China and Brazil, but intends to develop a framework suited to local conditions. International consultants have been engaged to assist in crafting a policy blueprint to support future legislation.
The framework also proposes digital literacy education in schools, national awareness campaigns and the establishment of a Child Online Protection Authority to monitor threats and oversee compliance.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall