What comes to your mind when you hear about child online protection? Some will simply say, protecting your child while online, and yes, it would be correct, but the question is why must you protect your child while online?
With the proliferation of technological devices such as smart phones, tablets and iPads flooding the market, children are now able to access the internet at the touch of a button. A recent study on knowledge, attitudes and practices on the use of ICTs and awareness of online risks by adolescents in Namibia, conducted in 2016, showed that only 7% of adolescents in Namibia are not using the Internet or a mobile phone.
“Did You Know? 7% of adolescents in Namibia are not using the Internet or a mobile phone!”
Internet access and usage offer many benefits for maintaining friendships, learning and information and for the exchange of ideas. A child, at the age of one, already starts using tablets and smartphones, to watch and learn from their favourite nursery rhymes.
Although children innocently go on the internet to access educational information, there are predators, and perpetrators waiting to lure and “groom” them into performing sexual acts. Children are being sexually exploited while online. The Internet and mobile technologies pose potential risks to children if these are not managed well. Such risks can include children revealing private details of themselves or people they know. Information such as home addresses or sexual pictures, or messages that are meant to hurt or humiliate others online can be shared by others, sometimes without your children or to your knowledge, and used to commit acts of violence, abuse or exploitation.
“The Internet and social media platforms are changing the scope, opportunity and forms of violence, abuse and exploitation of children.”
Violence and abuse are no longer restricted to homes, schools and communities, they also happen in the online environment, or may start off in the online environment and happen offline. This is for example, the case when an adult, sometimes pretending to be a child, befriends a child online, and arranges to meet the child offline only to abuse the child.
“The potential risks of digital engagement need to be managed well, by children themselves, parents and or caregivers and teachers, in order to enable children to bear all the fruits that the Internet has to offer, without putting them at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation.”
Call the toll-free 116 Child Helpline to talk to a counsellor, who can also provide further support by transferring any child online case to other professionals. The counsellors are trained to deal with child online protection related matters and can provide specific psychological support for your child.
For more information on child online protection, click on the UNICEF link on Namibian child online protection resources.
REMEMBER, you have a right to access the internet, but under the supervision of a parent and/or guardian you have a responsibility to treat others with respect online.
For more information on Child Online Protection, visit our website www.cran.na
Watch the Media for more information about CRAN’s #OWNit! Campaign and share your experiences with child online protection at facebook.com/CRANamibia.
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