Protecting children from the dangers online

Parents and kids using laptop, smartphone and digital tablet on sofa at home. [Courtesy] While the digital world offers endless opportunities for learning and fun, it also comes with challenges that can affect children's well-being, values, and behavior. With schools closed for the holiday, and children are left with a lot of free time, one common escape for many young ones is the allure of screens: television, smartphones and tablets. For Kenyan parents, the holiday period can often lead to relaxed routines and with unregulated access to the internet, children can easily stumble upon content that's inappropriate or harmful. From explicit language to violence or even inappropriate challenges, the internet can be a minefield for young minds. During the holidays, when children may have more unsupervised time, the chances of encountering such content multiply. "By the nature of a plethora of social media platforms some with End-to-End encryption has significantly increases children's exposure. Children have a wide arena if not on conventional social platforms that their parents or guardians/teachers know they are using gaming platforms and chatting away on DM - Direct Messages, they are using channels like Discord, Slack and when they need to "hide" thy are using vaults like calculators to hide images/videos and apps... Feels hard to keep up right?" says Evelyn Kasina, a family IT Consultant & Digital Learning Leader, and Founder of Eveminet Communication Solutions Limited. It is essential that parents take the initiative in utilizing parental controls to restrict access to specific websites or applications. Services such as YouTube provide parental settings that enable parents to oversee their children's viewing habits, ensuring they engage with content suitable for their age. "For Kenyan parents who might not be familiar with technology, numerous resources and community workshops are available to offer practical guidance on effectively monitoring and managing screen time. There are free Operating System tools, with Microsoft having Family Center, Google has Family Link, and we also have some paid ones like Qustodia Parental Control and Kasperskey," advices Evelyn. Children are often drawn to social media platforms where influencers promote trends, challenges, or lifestyles that can be harmful or unrealistic. "This is not to mention that 'bad actors' have become extremely sophisticated in their craft where they are utilising trust to capture their victims, that's the child - and the grooming process is fairly slow but sure where they are learning the habits and language of young people to fit in .. when using audio-visual and AI mascaraed, they fit the bill," Evelyn says. Warning signs Evelyn says parents can identify if their child is being exposed to harmful online content or predators through a number of ways, with the most immediate one being change of behavior among other red flags. "When you identify a shift that is something to look out for. There is a change in their behavior, hiding, change in language, dressing, access to their gadgets (it is either excessive of significantly reduced), there is probably some aggressive language and or isolation. "The most important thing for parents to do is to pay close attention and before jumping into any conclusions - ask and seek to meet the child at their level," she says. Valentine Mukami an actress and a mum-manager to a seven-year-old budding actor, says parents must engage with their children about the importance of critical thinking. They should help the young ones understand the difference between the curated image of social media and real-life values. "We need to encourage open discussions about online role models, which I believe is key to empowering children to make informed choices. Being vigilant allows parents to guide their children toward content that encourages respect, discipline, and unity-values that are key to fostering strong, responsible individuals," she says. Valentine says that while children might enjoy the additional free time they have on their hands; parents should ensure that there is a balance. "While it's important to monitor children's screen time, promoting physical activity and outdoor play is just as necessary. With the prevalence of screens, kids can become quite sedentary. The holiday season is a fantastic opportunity for families to partake in activities such as hiking, exploring local attractions, or simply enjoying the outdoors. "By developing a balanced routine that includes both screen time and physical activities, parents can help ensure their children's overall health-mentally and physically. This also allows for meaningful family bonding, enhancing relationships in ways that screens cannot achieve." The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is the State agency mandated by the Films and Stage Plays Act, Cap 222 of the Laws of Kenya, to regulate film and broadcast content. They started an initiative to help create awareness on the issue under the FomiNisafi/CleanIsCool banner. KFCB acting CEO Paskal Opiyo appeals to parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the audio-visual content that children are watching on TV, accessing online, or through other broadcast media channels, and guiding them appropriately. "KFCB encourages parents to set screen-time rules and limit the amount of time children spend on TV and other broadcast channels during this time when schools are closed," he says.

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