To stem the growing abuse of the social media, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called for legislation to control the use of social media by children and youths in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a seminar on how to help Nigerian children use the social media and the internet, the director, FCT Department of Policy and Implementation (DPI), Dr. Emmanuel Aina, noted that the use of social media, especially smart phones had done a lot of damage to Nigerian children.

"We have the need to formulate laws that would forbid the use of smart phones by our children and youths, especially in certain areas where we consider as unsafe for them. This facility has actually done a lot of damage to our children and the youths of this country. The areas that we need to censor are in those areas of pornography. Parents and teachers in schools need to be strict in monitoring the children. So, such laws need to be made," he said.

Dr. Aina who was represented at the event by the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Peter Echoda, warned on the dangers of giving unrestrained freedom to children on smart phone and internet facilities.

He advised parents and government to protect their children and the youths from the negative influence of information from the Internet.

Earlier, the organiser of the seminar, Mr. Francis Okpeta, had told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that he was motivated to put the event together because of the increasing reports on the abuse of social media, especially among children and youths in the country.