A new policy report by Abrams & Associates Research has cautioned against the immediate implementation of a proposed social media age-verification framework in Guyana, arguing that there is insufficient local evidence on the prevalence and nature of online harms affecting children and recommending a national study before broad regulatory measures are introduced
The report, titled Education Before Regulation: New Report Urges Evidence-Based Approach to Social Media Policy in Guyana, and authored by Karen Abrams and Salima Bacchus-Hinds, has argued that the government’s consultations have largely proceeded from the premise that social media poses significant risks to children and that some form of regulation may be necessary.
But the authors argue that Guyana should first establish the scale and nature of those harms through local research before implementing measures such as age verification.
In December of last year President Irfaan Ali had announced that the government would launch a national consultation to address the growing abuse of social media, particularly its impact on children and families.
The President had said the exercise is intended to determine what action should be taken rather than simply restricting social media. Similarly, Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC had argued that children must be protected from the “dark side” of the internet while still benefiting from its educational and informational value.
Since then, several ministries have been holding consultations on the issue and according to the Department of Public Information (DPI) the consultations were launched because of concerns about cyberbullying, online exploitation, harmful content, mental health impacts, social media addiction and effects on children’s development. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira has repeatedly argued that these risks justify government intervention.
While Abrams & Associates Research says protecting children online is a legitimate objective, they argue that mandatory age verification should not be introduced before sufficient evidence is gathered on the extent of online harms affecting Guyanese children.
The report’s central finding is that there is currently no comprehensive local data measuring the prevalence or nature of social-media-related harms among Guyanese children, making evidence-based policymaking difficult.
It also argues that many Guyanese children still face limited internet access, rely on shared devices and contend with high connectivity costs, suggesting that lack of access may be a more pressing issue than excessive social media use for many children.
The authors also pointed to Australia’s under-16 social media ban and note that implementation has revealed challenges related to privacy, age-verification accuracy, enforcement and circumvention.
Rather than prioritising age verification, the report recommends collecting data and evaluating risks before introducing broad regulatory measures.
It calls for a national baseline study on children’s online experiences to establish the scale and nature of digital risks facing young people.
It also recommends an independent privacy assessment before any age-verification system is implemented.
The authors advocate expanded digital literacy programmes, greater parental education and stronger child-protection and counselling services.
According to the report any age-verification system should first be tested through pilot projects before being implemented nationwide.
The findings of the report are based on a review of international research, comparative policy analysis and available Guyana-specific data relating to digital access and child welfare. The authors did not conduct original surveys or interviews in Guyana but argued that the absence of comprehensive local data on online harms underscores the need for a national baseline study before age-verification measures are introduced.
The United Kingdom on June 15 announced that social media platforms will be prohibited from offering services to users under 16. The proposal is expected to be taken to Parliament later this year, with implementation targeted for spring 2027.
According to media reports, the restrictions would apply to major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are expected to be exempt.
And the policy goes beyond age restrictions. The UK government has also proposed limiting features viewed as particularly risky for children, including livestreaming and contact with strangers through online platforms.
The UK says the move is aimed at addressing concerns about mental health, cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation and addictive platform design.
Enforcement would require age-assurance or age-verification systems, one of the most controversial aspects of the proposal because of concerns about privacy, data collection and practicality.
The UK policy is particularly relevant because it reflects the same tension now emerging in Guyana: whether governments should move quickly to restrict children’s access to social media or first gather local evidence on the scale and nature of online harms.
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