Report's survey: Azerbaijani public supports social media ban for children under 16

The negative impact of social media on children has become one of the most widely discussed issues worldwide in recent years, including in Azerbaijani society. Experts, parents, and educators increasingly warn that early and unrestricted access to digital platforms can have serious consequences for children's psychological, emotional, and social development. Children may also be exposed to harmful content, cyberbullying, gadget addiction, online fraud, and other digital risks.

Amid growing concerns, Azerbaijan is planning to introduce legislative measures in this area. Under the proposed rules, individuals under the age of 16 will not be allowed to create personal social media accounts. Users aged between 16 and 18 will be required to obtain parental or legal guardian consent.

Report conducted a public survey on the issue, with the results showing that citizens generally support the initiative and consider such restrictions a timely measure.

Most respondents said social media is harmful to children, particularly when its use is not supervised by adults. They noted that children today spend less time playing outdoors, interact less with their peers in person, and increasingly spend their free time in virtual environments. According to respondents, this negatively affects not only children's physical activity but also their mental well-being.

Some participants also said that social media can make children more irritable and aggressive.

Several parents said they allow their children to use social media only under supervision, arguing that it is virtually impossible to eliminate technology from children's lives entirely. At the same time, other respondents acknowledged that monitoring children's online activity has become increasingly difficult under current conditions.

The survey indicates that concerns over children's use of social media remain widespread in Azerbaijani society.

In this context, the proposed legislative changes are expected to help protect minors from harmful content, strengthen their digital safety, and improve parental oversight of children's online activities.

Report's survey: Azerbaijani public supports social media ban for children under 16