How a free app is helping parents teach kids about online safety

As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, children’s online safety has become an increasingly urgent concern.

A recent landmark verdict found that Meta and Google (YouTube) were negligent in designing platforms that addict young users and cause mental harm.

The ruling is seen as a major victory in a growing wave of lawsuits holding technology companies accountable for the impact of their platforms on children.

In an effort to help more kids navigate the digital world, the free Social Kids South Africa programme aims to equip children with the tools they need to navigate the online world safely.

Social Kids facilitator Shanade Esterhuizen explained that the programme teaches children what information is safe to share online, how to protect their privacy, how algorithms work, and how to deal with cyberbullying.

"Learning digital literacy is as important as learning how to read and write. If our children aren't taught how to manage this powerful tool, how are they meant to succeed?"

While internet safety should be implemented in schools, alongside other essential skills, Esterhuizen believes it is important for parents to play an active role by modelling healthy behaviour.

"We ourselves can get sucked in and end up scrolling on a phone for hours at a time or watching a series or doing something on a screen, and our children are seeing this. They're like sponges, absorbing the behaviour that we model."

She also encouraged parents to create a safe, open space for children to talk about their online experiences.

"It's very easy for a child to experience something bad online and not speak to a trusted adult. They speak to themselves because they're scared. We need to open that communication channel with our children and make sure they know there's good and bad online."

She suggested starting with small, everyday moments, like asking your child what game they're playing or what they're doing on their device.

"It's not about restricting technology entirely. It's about being mindful of the time spent on screens and the effects it has on our children."

To listen to Esterhuizen in conversation with CapeTalk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King, click the audio player below: