Morocco’s government plans social media ban for children under 15

Morocco’s government intends to pass a law barring children under 15 from social media platforms and dangerous electronic games, according to its programme for the upcoming legislative term.

The proposed legislation aims to protect children from the risks of unlawful uses of social media. It sits within a broader part of the programme on shielding children and young people from online dangers. That section also covers regulating their access to social networks and electronic games, combined with educational and supervisory measures to guide how they use technology.

Alongside the social media ban, the government has pledged to launch a “national programme for digital childhood”. The scheme rests on the idea that children should enter the digital world gradually, in step with their age.

Under the programme, smartphones would be banned inside primary schools, and digital education would be given more weight in school curricula. Families would also get parental monitoring tools to help them protect their children from risks linked to the online world.

The government also plans to create a “child-friendly digital space” label, which is intended to encourage a safer online environment for children.