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African American mother, daughter using laptop and phone. [iStockphoto]
In December 2025, two disturbing incidents on social media sparked widespread outrage in the country, raising urgent questions about the safety of children online.
In the first case, two TikTok creators, one known as Musa and another a South Sudanese national reportedly residing in Kenya, made comments suggesting school-aged girls were more attractive than adults.
The remarks, widely condemned for sexualising children, went viral and prompted calls for accountability. Online sleuths also unearthed clips showing Musa, primarily a dance content creator, holding young children while dancing, leading to questions about his intentions and parental supervision.
In a separate incident, a woman filmed herself flirting with male students in school uniforms, asking which of them “loved” her. The video spread rapidly across social platforms, drawing anger from parents and social commentators.
Former Nairobi County Executive Committee member Geoffrey Mosiria demanded swift action to protect boys and other minors from exploitative content.
These episodes highlight the broader risks children face online, where harmful material circulates rapidly, exposing minors to psychological and social harms before parents or authorities can intervene. Globally, governments are increasingly responding, even as popular young creators continue to thrive online.
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from accessing major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
The legislation imposes fines of up to Sh6.5 billion (50 million U.S. dollars) on companies that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Officials cited concerns over social media’s impact on young people’s mental health and well-being.
In the United Kingdom, policymakers and child-safety advocates have proposed stricter age-verification rules to bar under-16s from platforms without parental consent.
Regulators argue that the existing minimum age limits—typically 13—are poorly enforced, allowing millions of younger children to use apps unsupervised. The UK’s Online Safety framework is expected to require companies to implement stronger protections or face steep penalties.
France has introduced similar measures. A 2023 law requires parental permission for users under 15, though effective implementation depends on reliable age-verification technology.
Officials emphasise curbing screen addiction and online harassment, both linked to declining well-being among teenagers.
Norway has also discussed raising the minimum age for social media use to 15 or 16.
Research suggests these concerns are not unfounded. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that heavy social media use among adolescents is associated with anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and lower self-esteem, particularly for children lacking strong offline support networks.
Another long-term study of 4,000 children found that frequent engagement with social media over four years corresponded with a measurable decline in emotional well-being.
Experts note that the relationship between social media and mental health is complex, shaped by usage type, peer interactions, and family support.
In Kenya, these concerns intersect with a rapidly growing digital landscape. According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, by mid-2025, roughly 48 per cent of Kenyans had internet access, mostly via mobile devices.
Smartphone penetration is high, mobile data is affordable, and active social media accounts number between 15 and 18 million, meaning a significant portion of children and adolescents are already online and exposed to both opportunities and risks.
Experts are calling for urgent intervention.
Dr Peter Njagi Kumantha, a Kenyan psychologist and former head of Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, warns that social media is “a silent but powerful force shaping young minds.”
He explains that constant exposure to online content can affect self-esteem, emotional regulation, and attention. “When children are praised superficially online or exposed to content beyond their emotional readiness, it can skew their sense of self-worth and how they relate to the world,” he told The Standard. “We often underestimate how deeply the online world interacts with a child’s developing brain,” he added.
Emmanuel Manyasa, Executive Director of Usawa Agenda, emphasised that “social media is not just entertainment—it shapes how children learn, socialise, and view themselves. Properly used, it can have positive outcomes.” He advocates for a framework that allows children to enjoy the benefits of connectivity without being exploited or psychologically harmed.
Teachers are already witnessing the effects. Janet Ouko Muthoni, a child development specialist, notes, “We see students preoccupied with online validation rather than academic achievement. Anxiety, compulsive checking, and social comparison are affecting learning outcomes.”
Advocates suggest Kenya adopt a multifaceted response. High Court advocate Ken Echesa recommends strengthening digital literacy and online safety policies, alongside parental guidance and stricter oversight of content targeting children. “Existing enforcement frameworks are weak and often only on paper. The priority should be monitoring what children consume, who they interact with, and the content they create,” he said.
Despite rising concerns, Kenya’s Ministry of Education, Ministry of ICT, and the Communications Authority have yet to respond regarding age-based restrictions or safeguards similar to Australia’s approach.
