Digital safety for children is a shared responsibility

You might overlook it at first glance. The French blue gate doesn’t demand attention, neither does the signage. It’s subtle, almost understated—until you experience the contrast of the purpose and energy happening inside.

Dennis Ratemo is among those driving the purpose of TDH, an international charity committing to protecting children.

As a Program Lead, Dennis oversees the implementation of an initiative dubbed Safety for Children and their Rights Online (SCROL).

SCROL is informed by a baseline survey that revealed a worrying set of statistics about the safety of children online.

One of the findings that stood out for them was that online grooming was the most reported form of online child sexual abuse, with 86 per cent of those surveyed by Childline Kenya reporting about it. Grooming is where an adult builds a relationship with a child, young person or adult who is at risk so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things.

With online grooming, part of the risk is often that the child or young person eventually meets the predator in person. In Kenya, teenagers between 15 and 17 were found to be more likely to meet a stranger physically that they had also met online.

The survey also established that while many children are on social media, 73 percent are not aware of the privacy settings of the platforms, even as they share their personal information and images on them.

SCROL, the initiative ran by TDH, aims to empower children and communities while strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies such as the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to deal with predators and properly handle cases of child abuse. The initiative is also active in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Nepal.

In Kenya, TDH has zeroed in on Nairobi, Kisumu and Kilifi. These counties are considered the most burdened in online child sexual exploitation because of the presence of large informal settlements in Nairobi and Kisumu and tourism in Kilifi.

SCROL also works with private sector players to ensure they prioritise child safety on their platforms.

The second program, the SCROL Response Project, focuses specifically on training police to investigate, collect evidence, and respond effectively to ensure that predators are brought to justice.

Given that guardians are the first point of influence in ensuring children’s online safety, they need to be supported with resources that create safer online spaces on topics such as fraud, cyberbullying, fake news, and privacy concerns. Telcos like Safaricom play a significant role by offering online campaigns and educational programs aimed at helping users avoid cyber threats and online scams.

At Safaricom, said Phides Wakilo, Managed Security Services Lead, the company provides parents with a way to protect their children online through Secure Net on the Home Fibre.

“Secure Net provides parents with an extra layer of control over their children’s online experience. Parental controls can be set on home fiber connections to ensure kids have safe, uninterrupted browsing time. It also filters content, keeping apps and websites free from harmful material,” said Phides.

Safaricom has also collaborated with other telecommunication companies and the Communications Authority of Kenya to create an interactive portal aimed at creating a safer online environment for children, with tips for guardians.

The portal developed by the Communications Authority of Kenya in collaboration with Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom Kenya, Jamii Telecommunication Ltd and the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), offers safety tips for children and their parents or guardians.

For both Dennis and Phides, the recently observed Safer Internet Day serves as an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing efforts needed to prioritize online safety and digital literacy. As children grow up immersed in the digital world, it’s crucial to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to navigate its risks safely.