Tech Experts Urge Parents to Keep Children Under 13 Off Social Media

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 28 2026 – Technology and digital policy experts at the just ended Trust Summit have urged parents to keep children below the age of 13 off social media platforms, warning that protecting young users in an increasingly digital world requires greater parental vigilance, responsible technology design and stronger accountability from platform providers.

The call emerged during Arena Conversation 5, titled Africa’s Digital Futures: Platforms, AI, Algorithms, Infrastructure, and Trusted Vendors, on the third day of the Trust Summit in Nairobi, where experts examined how artificial intelligence, social media algorithms and digital platforms are reshaping society, information consumption and public trust.

The experts pointed to growing international debate over age restrictions and children's online safety, including policy discussions in France, the United Kingdom and Norway, and urged African parents, policymakers, educators and technology companies to give greater priority to protecting children from potential online harm.

The discussion placed child safety at the centre of a broader conversation about how to build a digital environment that promotes trust, safeguards vulnerable users and ensures technology serves the public interest.

Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, observed that technology had become an increasingly significant part of everyday life, fundamentally changing how people access and consume news and information.

His remarks highlighted the need for families and institutions to adapt to a digital landscape in which children are exposed to information, online interactions and technology-driven experiences from an increasingly young age.

Mercy Ndegwa of Meta said platforms were designed to facilitate social connections through technology, offering users curated experiences rather than simply supplying content.

Her remarks underscored the role of platform design in shaping what users encounter online and how they interact with others, raising important questions about the responsibilities of technology companies towards younger audiences.

Charles Murito, Regional Director for Government Affairs and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa at Google, said trust was particularly important in the age of artificial intelligence.

“Platforms do have a responsibility to vet and verify and let users know what is real and what has been artificially created,” Murito said.

His remarks highlighted the growing challenge of distinguishing authentic information from AI-generated content, particularly as synthetic images, videos and other forms of digital media become increasingly sophisticated.

The experts noted that protecting children online cannot rest solely on parents. Technology companies, governments, schools and other institutions must also play their part in ensuring that digital environments are safer, more transparent and appropriate for different age groups.

The conversation also raised questions about the ability of existing governance systems to keep pace with rapid technological change.

Dr Katherine Getao, an independent consultant in cyber diplomacy, cyber hygiene and cybersecurity, and former Chief Executive Officer of Kenya’s ICT Authority, said the world was attempting to govern the 21st century using 20th-century knowledge.

Her observation pointed to the need for more responsive regulatory frameworks, stronger digital literacy and institutions capable of addressing emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence and online platforms.

As digital technologies increasingly influence education, employment, public discourse and social relationships, the experts stressed the importance of equipping young people with the skills to navigate the online world responsibly while ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

Truth must remain the currency of digital communication

Beyond child safety, the session examined the relationship between digital platforms, journalism and the integrity of information in an era of algorithm-driven content and AI-generated media.

Geoffrey Odundo, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nation Media Group, said the source of information remained fundamental to determining its credibility.

“Every content has a source. Whatever you read and consume comes from somewhere,” Odundo said.

He added that truth remained central to the media’s responsibility, even as competition for speed and audience attention intensified.

“The currency for us is in the truth,” he said, emphasising that journalism must prioritise accuracy and credibility over the pressure to publish first.

Odundo noted that the media faced a continuing challenge in balancing the demand for speed with its obligation to verify information before publication.

The discussion highlighted the importance of media literacy, source verification and responsible content distribution in helping audiences distinguish credible reporting from misinformation and manipulated digital content.

Murito's call for platforms to identify artificially created content reinforced the need for greater transparency across the digital information ecosystem.

Rethinking education and inclusive digital access

The experts also called for education systems to move beyond the traditional transfer of knowledge and prepare learners for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Dr Jason Lane, Senior Advisor for Strategy and Innovation in the Office of the President at the University of Illinois System and Professor of Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership, highlighted the central role universities have played in developing modern technologies.

He argued that education must evolve to prepare learners to engage with technology, solve complex problems and respond to the changing demands of society.

The discussion further emphasised that trust in digital institutions depends on the experiences of the people who use them, including persons with disabilities and other groups that are often excluded from technology design.

Elly Savatia, founder of Signvrse and Terp 360, called for accessibility to be embedded into the design of digital systems rather than treated as an afterthought.

“We need to ensure the world is accessible by design. There are forms of disabilities that are invisible that need to be considered,” Savatia said.

He added that personal experiences with institutions shape whether people consider them trustworthy, highlighting the relationship between inclusion, service delivery and public confidence.

A call for stronger digital responsibility

The Trust Summit discussion underscored the need for a shared approach to digital responsibility, bringing together parents, educators, governments, media organisations and technology companies.

The call for parents to keep children under 13 off social media was presented within this broader appeal for age-appropriate digital engagement, stronger safeguards and greater accountability for the systems that shape online experiences.

As African countries expand digital connectivity and adopt artificial intelligence across multiple sectors, the experts emphasised that technological progress must be accompanied by safeguards that protect users, preserve the integrity of information and ensure that innovation benefits society.

The session formed part of the Trust Summit’s wider effort to identify practical ways of rebuilding confidence in institutions, information systems and international cooperation.

Its central message was that trust in the digital age must be built through responsible design, credible information, inclusive access and a collective commitment to protecting those most vulnerable to online risks.