Muscat – Australia became the first country last year to ban social media use for children under 16. Since then, several countries have introduced or are considering similar restrictions. Should Oman follow and why? Here is what Muscat Daily readers said:

Salim Al Harthy, IT consultant

Oman does not necessarily need a total ban, but stricter regulations are important. Social media exposes children to misinformation, unrealistic lifestyles and dangerous trends at a very young age. Awareness campaigns, digital literacy in schools and proper monitoring by parents would be more practical and balanced for Omani society.

Maha Al Lawati, Psychologist

As a psychologist, I see increasing anxiety, low self-esteem and attention issues among children linked to excessive social media use. Oman should explore similar restrictions, especially during school years. Childhood should focus more on social interaction, sports, creativity and family bonding rather than endless scrolling and online validation.

Kiran Choudhury, Homemaker

A total ban of social media is not the right step. There should be certain restrictions like limit to the app time, screen time and restrictions on content. Access during night should to be banned or restricted and there must be a way for the content provider to verify the user’s age. A healthy relationship with the digital media has to be maintained

Fatma Al Balushi, Homemaker

I believe Oman should seriously consider restrictions on social media for children under 16. Many young students are becoming addicted to screens, affecting studies, sleep and emotional health. A controlled system with parental guidance could help children develop healthier habits and protect them from harmful online content and cyberbullying.

Sudeshna Majumdar, Teacher

Oman should consider regulating children’s social media use but not blindly follow Australia’s ban. Policies must suit local culture and enforcement capacity. A balanced approach could include parental consent for ages 13 to 15, content filters, digital literacy in schools and universities, and penalties for companies allowing underage access without verification where strictly necessary.  

Anirudh Sharma, Marketing executive

I support Oman introducing limited restrictions for children on social media. Young minds are easily influenced by harmful content, fake influencers and online pressure. However, banning alone is not enough. Parents must also become digitally aware and spend more quality time with their children instead of depending on phones as distractions.

M Yousuf Aziz, Private sector employee

The basic reasons behind banning social media for children under 16 years are that these are easy to access and free to use. Social media engages adolescents for long hours at the cost of other activities like homework and outdoor games. This hampers their studies as well as physical growth. Children are attracted to unnecessary glamour, rumours and crime reports. If one has to safeguard them at a basic level, holistic remedies are a must. However, a total ban is not recommended.