Author Urges Protection of Children from Adult-Rated Content as Media Influences Surge
An author, Oluyemi Awolokun, has called for stronger measures to shield children from adult-rated media content, warning that exposure to such materials could have harmful effects on childhood development.
Speaking on Sunday during the launch of his new book, Dancing Too Early: Lyrics, Children, and the African Media Wave, held at the Rovingheights Book Store, the author expressed concern about what he described as a growing “cultural shift”, where children are increasingly exposed to explicit lyrics, films and other adult-oriented content through music, social media and other digital channels.
Awolokun argued that when children repeatedly consume such content, especially in public venues or spaces with weak oversight, it can distort their perception of adulthood and influence behaviour prematurely. “Once children hear something, they can’t unhear it,” he said. “That in itself is a danger to our society.”
To address this worrying trend, he urged a collective response, calling on parents, teachers, religious leaders, policymakers and digital-content regulators to work together to shield children from harmful material. He also advocated for creating child-friendly public spaces, where minors can spend time free from exposure to adult content.
One of those who contributed to the book, Sunday Balogun, Lead Pastor at Rainbow Charismatic Centre, who wrote the foreword, described the project as timely and essential for shaping a healthier cultural and moral environment for children, stressing that the conversation around media influence on youths is “long overdue.”
As access to digital media grows across Nigeria and Africa, the launch of “Dancing Too Early” hopes to spark renewed public debate about media regulation, parental responsibility, and the protection of children’s innocence and psychological well-being.