Rabat – Morocco’s government plans to restrict children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms and potentially harmful online games as part of a broader effort to strengthen child protection in the digital environment.
The proposal features in the government’s program for 2026-2031, which outlines measures to address social and digital issues. The plan also includes a ban on smartphone use in primary schools and the provision of parental control tools to help families monitor children’s online activities.
The proposed restrictions reflect growing concerns about children’s exposure to online risks, including harmful content and potentially unsafe digital interactions. However, the announcement has also raised questions about how authorities would enforce such measures and ensure compliance across different platforms.
The proposal places children’s digital safety among the key issues addressed in the government’s new program.
Its implementation, however, will depend on the specific rules adopted, the mechanisms used to enforce them, and the role assigned to parents, schools, technology companies, and public authorities.
Government’s program
Head of Government Fatima Zahra El Mansouri presented the government’s program for 2026-2031 before Parliament on Monday, outlining the executive’s priorities for the next five years.
The program sets out the government’s roadmap for social and economic development, with a focus on improving public services, strengthening social protection, and addressing Morocco’s evolving needs.
El Mansouri’s program sets an economic growth target of an average 5% annually between 2027 and 2031, alongside efforts to contain inflation at around 2% and reduce the budget deficit to approximately 3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Tourism also features among the government’s economic priorities, with a target of attracting 26 million visitors annually by 2030. The broader economic agenda seeks to stimulate investment, support job creation, and strengthen Morocco’s economic competitiveness, while addressing persistent social and regional disparities.
Social protection and living standards form another major pillar of the program. The government plans to expand support for vulnerable households, improve access to public services, and strengthen healthcare and education.
Women’s economic empowerment and equal opportunities also feature in the government’s priorities. El Mansouri outlined commitments to support women’s entrepreneurship, promote access to decent employment, and increase women’s representation in decision-making positions.
The program also calls for stronger protection against violence against women and improved access to education, healthcare, and social protection for women in rural areas and other vulnerable groups.
Family policy forms part of this agenda, with proposed measures that include changes to the Family Code (Moudawana) and an increase in widows’ pensions from 50% to 100% of the eligible deceased husband’s main pension.
