Limit children’s access to phones, social media, Kate Henshaw urges parents

File: Kate Henshaw

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Award-winning Nigerian actress and social advocate, Kate Henshaw, has called on parents to set firm boundaries on their children’s use of mobile phones and social media to protect their focus, character and real-life relationships.

Henshaw made the appeal on Wednesday at the Chrisland Schools End-of-Year Lecture in Opebi, Lagos, addressing Senior Secondary School students on the theme, “Appreciating Parents’ and Teachers’ Investments Within Modern-Day Distractions.”

She noted that unrestricted screen time is affecting young people’s attention span and interpersonal skills.

“We are living in a digital world. During my time, we didn’t grow up with smartphones and the internet. We had real human connections.

“Children today are surrounded by screens fighting for their attention, and it’s becoming harder for them to focus on their studies and character development,” she said.

Henshaw referenced Australia’s recent restriction on social media access for under-16s, describing it as timely.

“Today, December 10, the Australian government restricted the use of social media for under-16s.

“I think it’s relatable because we need to talk about how digital tools affect young people, cyberbullying, and the pressure to compare themselves with what they see online,” she said.

She urged Nigerian parents to actively control screen time rather than using devices as quick distractions.

“Some children don’t have phones at home and I found that refreshing. For those who do, parents need to set boundaries, wake up, do chores, study, rest, and then maybe give them a time frame in the evening to use their devices.

“The world on social media is not real. Children start to second-guess themselves, feel unfulfilled, or think they deserve what their friends have without knowing if they even need it. Parents must be present, otherwise the devices will take over,” she said.

She also appealed to the Federal Government to consider adopting similar digital-safety measures.

“I think Nigeria should do the same. Even in my workplace, before filming begins, everyone, no matter how big, drops their phones in a box so we can focus. Phones are incredibly distracting,” she said.

Chrisland Schools Director of Schools, Mrs Ayoola Akinyeye, said the institution invited Henshaw to help students differentiate between real human relationships and online illusions.

She noted the timing of the lecture was deliberate, as students would soon be home for the holidays with greater phone access.

“We felt it was important for young adults to see personalities they look up to and hear from them beyond social media.

“Many only know Kate from her online videos. Bringing her to school demystifies the social media world and helps them confront the pressures they faces.

“We hope her message stays with them as they spend more time online during the Christmas break,” Akinyeye said.

Akinyeye explained that Chrisland implements “three layers of protection” on students’ devices, including antivirus and filters, server-level controls, and restrictions to prevent bypassing.

She urged parents to actively guide their children in navigating digital spaces safely.

“Teenagers will misuse social media; it’s part of their growth. What we do is teach them the dangers and help them build the right habits.

“Many parents grew up in a different world and don’t understand the dangers their children now face. I always tell them: you wouldn’t hand your child a car without teaching them to drive. So why give them a phone without guidance on navigating the social media highway?” said Akinyeye

The PUNCH Senior Correspondent, Grace, has over 17 years experience covering education, arts, business and health sectors. She’s a graduate of Sociology

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