Social Media Ban: Digital literacy and education key to protecting children from social media harm

The Weekend View

A recent United Nations study found that 95% of children in South Africa have access to the internet regularly – and their online behaviour exposes them to online violence, exploitation and abuse. Some 70% of children surveyed by UNICEF said they use the internet without parental consent. This is a worldwide phenomenon and it is against this backdrop that Australia, THIS WEEK, announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from social media as part of a push to protect young people's mental health. The proposed laws are to be tabled in Australia's parliament next week. Campaigners say bans are needed to protect children from harmful content, misinformation, bullying and other social pressures. While most experts agree that social media platforms can harm the mental health of adolescents, many are split over the efficacy of trying to outlaw them all together. Some argue that bans only delay young people's exposure to apps such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, instead of teaching them how to navigate complex online spaces. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dee Mokoena, Chief Executive Officer at Cyber Sec Clinique and Freelance writer with TechCentral, Sandra Laurence