Several countries have moved to restrict or ban social media access for children under 16. The global debate is intensifying and South Africa cannot afford to look away. On 17 February 2026, at the Goethe-Institut , Moxii Africa brought this urgent question into the room. In partnership with our legal collaborators at ALT Advisory, we convened a dynamic Moot Court titled “To Ban or Not to Ban?”, placing the question of whether South Africa should prohibit social media access for children under 16 on trial. Structured as a courtroom debate, two legal teams presented opposing arguments before an acting judge, unpacking the legal, ethical, and developmental implications of such a ban. Rather than delivering simple answers, the Moot Court highlighted nuance and the complexity of governing digital spaces in ways that are both protective and empowering. Because striving for open and trusted information requires us to ask difficult questions and to centre children’s rights.