MTN urges action on child safety

MTN Group brought together policymakers, educators, advocacy groups, and experts in digital safety to share the findings of its Online Child Safety African Insights research, carried out in collaboration with IPSOS

The digital age presents significant opportunities for children across Africa, but it also introduces serious risks that require collective action to ensure their safety.

The event also marked a renewed commitment by MTN through its Help Children Be Children (HCBC) initiative, which aims to combat online child abuse and exploitation.

The research, conducted in Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia, highlights the pressing challenges children face in the digital world. In Nigeria, more than half of the children surveyed reported encountering bullying or harassment online, but many refrained from seeking help due to fear of being judged or punished. In South Sudan, the unregulated access to inappropriate content, coupled with a lack of parental oversight, was found to cause increased stress and behavioral problems in children. Meanwhile, educators and parents in Zambia expressed the urgent need for assistance in navigating online safety measures.

The research also revealed a disturbing correlation between online abuse and negative mental health effects, such as anxiety and social withdrawal in children.

MTN group’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, Nompilo Morafo, stated, “This research underlines the urgency of equipping children with the skills to protect themselves online while empowering caregivers to create safer digital environments.”

The HCBC initiative addresses the challenges identified in the research, focusing on peer advocacy and enhancing the ability of caregivers and educators to help children stay safe online. By empowering children—many of whom face online harassment and harmful content exposure—MTN aims to create a secure digital environment. This includes promoting online safety within communities and equipping adults with the knowledge and tools to mitigate these risks. Such efforts not only reduce exposure to dangers but also improve mental health outcomes, addressing the emotional toll revealed in the research.

A key component of MTN’s strategy is its partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which has led to the development of the MTN-IWF Portal, a vital resource for reporting harmful online content across Africa. Available at Child Online Protection | MTN.com, the portal enables swift action in addressing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In 2023, MTN reviewed over 656 million URLs using adaptive systems to block harmful sites identified by the IWF.

The findings from the research and MTN’s proactive measures highlight the importance of collaboration. Governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals must work together to protect children from the darker side of the internet. Reports of harmful online activity can be submitted through the MTN-IWF Portal to ensure that dangerous content is removed quickly.

MTN remains committed to protecting Africa’s youngest digital users, helping them navigate the internet with confidence and security while prioritizing their safety and well-being.