Stakeholders from Guyana’s media and entertainment sectors have endorsed the government’s ongoing national consultation on social media and its consequential effects on children.
They described the initiative as timely and necessary to safeguard young people in an increasingly digital world.
The consultation, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister through the Department of Information and Public Affairs, brought together DJs, selectors, announcers, entertainers and media personalities at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Wednesday.
Participant Jasmine Wong commended the initiative, noting that social media continues to have a significant influence on children and young people.
“It is a very good initiative by the Government of Guyana,” Wong said, while highlighting that content consumed online can impact children’s mental health and influence how they perceive and portray themselves.
She stressed that many young people often emulate trends and behaviours seen on social media, making it important for parents, educators and content creators to be mindful of the messages being shared online.
Meanwhile, La Toya Herbert described the engagement as both informative and necessary, as it provided an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute their perspectives on the effects of social media on children.
“This engagement is very vital because it brings together persons to share their thoughts, seek different perspectives and discuss what can be done to address the impact of social media on children,” Herbert said.
She added that the session encouraged meaningful dialogue and collaboration among participants from various sectors.
Delivering the feature address, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Information and Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, underscored the importance of balancing the benefits of technology with the need to protect children from online harm.
“We recognise the importance of digital technologies and the opportunities they provide for learning, creativity, communication and innovation, but social media has also exposed our children to serious risks, including cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content and mental health concerns,” the minister stated.
He emphasised that the consultation process is not intended to impose predetermined solutions but to gather national input on how best to address the challenges facing children online.
“It is not about censorship. It is about fostering a safer and healthier digital environment for our children,” Minister McCoy affirmed.
The minister also called on media practitioners, influencers and content creators to exercise greater responsibility. He noted that children and young people are heavily influenced by the content they consume online.
The stakeholder engagement forms part of a series of national consultations being conducted across Guyana to gather recommendations that will help shape policies and approaches aimed at protecting children while preserving the positive opportunities offered by digital technologies.