The Government has signalled that it will be taking steps which could eventually regulate the use of social media by Jamaican children in line with what other countries have been doing to shield youngsters from its potentially harmful effects.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton addressed the matter on Tuesday during his contribution to the 2026-27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

He framed the approach being taken by the Administration as assessing “a range of issues impacting Jamaicans in the context of family and community health”, over the next two years. This will be done under the Government’s Community Arranged Response Efforts (CARE) Agenda, a $500-million fund.

It will look to address other issues critical to family and community health, including a rapidly ageing population, the declining fertility rates and issues surrounding women’s health.

“We will examine the threats and opportunities for new and emerging policies to support holistic health, to protect the vulnerable and enhance quality and longevity of life. We will seek partnerships, research and advocate for new ideas around these goals which will strengthen our lifestage approach to community or primary health care. We will start with our CARE Agenda to highlight and influence critical determinants of better family and community health,” said Tufton.

As it relates to social media and its negative influences, Tufton believes it is best to start with his colleagues in the Parliament.

“I must tell you, in this House we encourage it at times. We go on some of these programmes, we promote some of the toxicity that is being promulgated; the hate, the vitriol and, unknowingly, maybe… we’re doing harm not just to ourselves but to those we’re trying to provide leadership for,” Tufton said.

“I’m calling on this House, the time has come for us to have a serious consideration around the unrestricted access to social media as it relates to our children in particular because it is a problem,” he added.

His hope is that the research will “guide a conversation and certainly to advocate for some changes in this regard”.

According to the minister’s prepared text, Jamaica lacks a coordinated national response to this public health threat. “The time has come to use research-based policy formulation to determine age-based regulation, platform accountability, national digital health guidelines, school-based digital wellness education, expanded youth mental health services, public awareness campaigns for caregivers, and a national surveillance system to track usage patterns and mental health outcomes,” he said.

Emphasising that research will inform further advocacy around relevant policy, Tufton said with the completion of this national study on public perceptions of social media regulation for minors, the Government will move decisively into the next phase of action.

“We will translate these evidence-based findings into a clear policy framework by developing and assessing regulatory options, and engaging key stakeholders, including parents, educators, youth representatives, and digital platform providers, to ensure that any measures introduced are balanced, practical, and in the best interest of our children”.

“This consultative and structured approach will guide the preparation of a comprehensive policy for the regulation of social media,” said Tufton.

The health and wellness minister pointed to research which shows that social media penetration in Jamaica is significant with more than one million Jamaicans using Instagram and about 1.6 million on Facebook up to late 2025. This is driven largely by users aged 25-34.

“While these platforms have transformed communication, networking, and entrepreneurship, they have also introduced measurable social and psychological strain,” said the minister.

He noted that among children aged 0-14, 64 per cent report that social media negatively affects their mental health, while 47 per cent of adolescents aged 15-19 report similar impacts.

Tufton also noted that usage intensity is a critical factor, as children spending more than three hours daily online are twice as likely to experience mental health problems.

He pointed out that regionally, the Caribbean has also seen rising levels of cyberbullying, sexting, emotional distress, and suicidal ideation, reinforcing concerns that social media has evolved into a public health issue rather than just a communication tool.

“These trends align with global shifts toward stronger government intervention. Countries such as Australia (16+), Denmark (15+), France (15+), and Indonesia (16+) have already implemented age-based restrictions, while Spain, Greece, Norway, and Austria are actively considering similar policies. Broader regulatory frameworks, including the UK’s Online Safety Act, now require platforms to monitor harmful content, enforce age verification, and remove addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, with substantial penalties for non-compliance,” Tufton said.

He lamented that “here in Jamaica it’s a free-for-all”, with emerging research from 2025-2026 confirming a strong link between social media use and increased anxiety, depression, and digital addiction, particularly among youth and content creators.

Youth under 24 spend an average of six hours daily on social media, compared to four hours for adults and three hours for seniors. Among content creators, 42 per cent report anxiety and 38 per cent report depressive symptoms such as low mood and irritability, while 47 per cent experience burnout driven by the pressure to maintain an online persona and secure income opportunities.

Tufton shared that 36 per cent of Jamaican content creators produce material involving physical altercations, and 29 per cent engage in aggressive online behaviour, contributing to a broader cultural shift marked by increased vulgarity and normalisation of harmful content.

Regarding the $500-million fund, the ministry will publish a call for proposals on June 15, 2026, inviting organisations from across the island to participate in what Tufton called “this collaboration to manage the many societal risks”.