Should social media be banned: The Gen Z Factor

By Ebenezer OWUSU-ANSAH

Social media is no longer a fad — it’s a force. It shapes how we communicate, learn, do business, and even how we see ourselves and the world around us.

From funny TikTok videos to serious debates on X (formerly Twitter), the digital space has become the new town square, especially for young people.

But as its influence grows, so do the concerns — especially when it comes to children.

The Dilemma: Ban or educate?

It’s not hard to see why some people, including high-profile figures like Hillary Clinton, believe that children should be banned from social media platforms.

Speaking out strongly, Clinton warned, “If [these platforms] don’t moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control… it’s real harm, it’s child porn and threats of violence — things that are terribly dangerous.”

Indeed, the dangers are real.

Too much screen time affects children’s ability to focus. Many parents can relate to seeing their child abandon homework just to check a notification, or take twice as long to get dressed because they’re glued to their screen.

Beyond distraction, there’s the more sinister side of the internet: cyberbullies, scammers, and criminals lurk behind anonymous profiles, waiting for an unsuspecting user to click the wrong link or trust the wrong person.

Worse still, social media platforms’ safety measures are often too weak to offer real protection. Age verification is laughably easy to bypass. Children, by pretending to be older, gain access to unfiltered content, often before they’re ready to process or understand it.

And then there’s misinformation. A young mind trying to understand the world can be easily misled by falsehoods — especially in Ghana’s polarised political and social landscape where propaganda often spreads unchecked.

A ban, it’s argued, could serve as a digital shield, preventing children from wandering into dangerous territory.

But children also have rights

Here’s the other side of the coin.

Social media isn’t all doom and gloom. It can be a rich educational space, a place for children to express themselves, learn new things, explore ideas, and even start businesses. Many Ghanaian children — especially those aged 14 to 17 — are already using smartphones as their primary device for learning and socialising.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, only 22% of children have basic ICT skills, yet many are active online. This presents a strong argument for media literacy, not prohibition. Shouldn’t we be teaching children how to use social media wisely instead of banning it altogether?

A ban also raises ethical questions. Do children not have a right to participate in digital spaces that shape modern life? Denying them this access could create a digital divide, further distancing them from opportunities their peers around the world enjoy.

Let’s face it — enforcement would be near impossible. Children are tech-savvy. They’ll find a way around restrictions. Without strong, enforceable laws and reliable age verification, any ban would be more symbolic than practical.

The Gen Z Perspective

Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are digital natives. They’ve grown up with smartphones, YouTube, Instagram, and now TikTok. The average 15-year-old Ghanaian is likely juggling WhatsApp chats, watching short videos, and researching homework online — all at the same time.

They are tech-savvy, socially aware, and more visually inclined than any previous generation. While they often avoid traditional text-heavy formats, they thrive in digital spaces that are dynamic and visual.

If Ghana bans children from social media, we risk widening the gap between our youth and the rest of the world. In an era where digital literacy is as important as reading and writing, a ban could hold back a generation.

The way forward

So, what’s the solution?

Not bans. Not blind access either. Instead, Ghana needs:

• Media literacy programmes in schools and communities.
• Stronger parental controls and digital parenting tools.
• Stricter platform regulations and meaningful enforcement.

The digital world is here to stay. Rather than shut our children out, let’s equip them to thrive in it — safely, smartly, and responsibly.

The post Should social media be banned: The Gen Z Factor appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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