The Government of Guyana will launch a national consultation in January aimed at addressing concerns about social media misuse, particularly its impact on children and families, President Irfaan Ali has announced. While the initiative is presented as an effort to develop “informed, balanced solutions” through public input, analysts question whether the move could have broader implications for freedom of expression, dissent, and independent oversight—rights critical to democracy.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘restricting’ social media,” President Ali said. “I want the consultation to tell us what we should do.”
Speaking during an engagement with journalists and students at the Courtyard Railway, on Tuesday, President Ali explained that a dedicated team is being assembled and that he is reviewing international case studies, including approaches from Australia, Germany, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, to guide policy development suited to Guyana’s social and cultural context.
He stressed that social media abuse, rather than the platforms themselves, is the concern. “Social media is not the problem,” he said. “It is the abuse of social media.” The President cited parental concerns heard over the holidays, including one account of a child sneaking a confiscated device late at night, highlighting challenges families face in managing screen time.
Drawing on his visit to Silicon Valley, California, Ali noted that senior technology executives recognise the risks of excessive screen exposure and often limit device use for their own children. “That tells us that everyone recognises this is a real problem,” he added.
However, analysts caution that in Guyana, where many citizens are denied access to state-owned and government-supported media and other information channels, social media has become a primary platform for expression, information sharing, and knowledge. They question whether the consultation could serve as another form of restricting free speech in ways that the existing Cybercrime Law may not even reach.
While President Ali emphasised consultation, education, and shared responsibility as the foundation for effective policy, questions remain about how the government will balance protecting children with safeguarding the public’s right to free expression.
One analyst recalled the phrase “democracy dies in darkness,” underscoring the importance of transparency, oversight, and engagement with political opposition and civil society.
The president noted that the consultations will involve families, young people, churches, and communities, aiming to ensure that measures are balanced, inclusive, and responsive to the realities of Guyanese families. Yet observers question who will truly be consulted, particularly given what some describe as an estranged relationship between the presidency, sections of the parliamentary opposition, and parts of civil society.
The upcoming national consultation, while aimed at strengthening social well-being in the digital age, may also serve as a test of the government’s commitment to preserving democratic norms, independent oversight, and the free flow of information—foundations critical to holding power accountable.
