By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, D.S.
The Christian Lawyers Centre, known as LEGAL LINK, has formally petitioned President Julius Maada Bio to impose a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 16 in Sierra Leone. This significant appeal coincides with International Human Rights Day, marked in a letter dated December 10, 2025.
In his letter, LEGAL LINK Executive Director Rashid Dumbuya Esq. emphasized the urgent need for legislative action to protect minors from what the organization has termed the “growing and harmful exposure” to unregulated digital platforms. The group expressed serious concerns over the risks that the current digital landscape poses to children, citing a rise in online exploitation, grooming by predators, and incidents of cyberbullying as primary motivations for the proposed ban.
“Our children, many as young as 8, 10, and 12, are being drawn into a digital world that is unsuitable for their emotional maturity and moral development,” the statement articulated. Beyond these safety concerns, LEGAL LINK outlined a troubling decline in academic engagement attributed to social media addiction. They also pointed to an erosion of family, community, moral, and religious values resulting from children’s exposure to explicit and harmful content.
To address these pressing issues, LEGAL LINK has proposed a comprehensive legislative framework for the President’s consideration, which includes several key initiatives:
- Total Ban: Enacting a law that prohibits children under 16 from owning or using social media accounts.
- Mandatory Verification: Implementing strict age-verification systems by telecommunication companies and digital platforms during SIM registration and account creation.
- Penalties for Adults: Establishing punitive measures for parents, guardians, or adults who knowingly facilitate underage access to these platforms.
- Educational Reform: Integrating digital safety into the national school curriculum to teach children about responsible technology use and cyber ethics.
In making its case, LEGAL LINK referenced international trends, pointing to countries like Australia that have recognized the need to protect youth from the negative influences of social media. The organization urged President Bio to adopt similar measures, thereby positioning Sierra Leone as a leader in child protection on the African continent.
While acknowledging the President’s recent leadership roles, including as Chair of ECOWAS and contributions to the UN Security Council, Dumbuya underscored that the well-being of the nation’s children remains a paramount national security and moral priority.
The letter was also copied to key stakeholders, including the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, indicating a broad desire for action on this pressing issue.
As discussions about digital safety continue, LEGAL LINK’s petition emphasizes the critical need for swift measures to safeguard the future of Sierra Leone’s children.
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