Azerbaijan’s presidential aide warns of social media threats to youth

One of the issues attracting increasing international attention is the impact of social media on children and teenagers, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, stated.

Addressing the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Shusha during a panel on “The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust,” Hajiyev said governments across the world are re-evaluating approaches to protecting young people from harmful online content, cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, and psychological risks while preserving access to information and freedom of expression.

According to Hajiyev, the issue is not about restricting technology but about protecting children and ensuring the parallel development of digital innovation and digital responsibility. 

Every society must find a balance between innovation, security, parental responsibility, and individual rights. There is no universal solution, but there is a common task — to place the well-being of the younger generation at the centre of policy, he stressed.

By Jeyhun Aghazada