Letter of the Day | Where are children’s voices in Jamaica’s social media study?

THE EDITOR, Madam

We are unequivocal in our support for stronger protections for children and young people online. We share this objective with the Ministry of Health and Wellness. However, the approaches being pursued in jurisdictions such as the European Union, the United Kingdom and Australia should not be used as templates to adopt without careful consideration.

When The Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) sought clarification from the Ministry of Health and Wellness on whether children and young people had been consulted as part of the National Study on Social Media Use and the Protection of Children, an officer in the ministry’s Access to Information Unit advised that they were unsure whether such a study had taken place or would ever be conducted. This was surprising, given that Minister Dr Christopher Tufton had publicly announced that the study was underway and that its findings would inform national policy.

The study now released provides valuable insight into the views of parents and caregivers. However, if it is intended to guide national policy on children’s use of social media, one obvious question remains: Where are the children’s voices? According to The Gleaner, the study surveyed 1,027 adults across Jamaica’s 14 parishes. Weh di pickney dem deh?

How can a national study intended to shape policy on children’s use of social media rely almost entirely on adult perceptions without meaningfully hearing from the very children whose rights and daily lives will be affected?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Jamaica is a state party, is clear that children have the right to participate in decisions affecting them. Their participation must be meaningful not symbolic, tokenistic, or treated as an afterthought.

Child protection online must not become synonymous with prohibition. While Jamaica has not announced a blanket social media ban, international trends toward restricting children’s access should not be adopted uncritically. The focus should instead be on safety by design, stronger accountability for technology companies, digital literacy, and modern legislation that protects children while supporting families.

We are calling on the Ministry of Health and Wellness to undertake a dedicated consultation with children and young people before finalising any policy or legislative framework arising from this study. Further, we would like to extend our support in contributing our expertise in child rights, youth participation and public policy on this matter, to ensure that the voices of children and young people are meaningfully reflected.

FI WE CHILDREN FOUNDATION