Not every online friend is a friend
By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave I walked into the training room thinking I knew enough about internet safety. Passwords. Don’t click strange links. Don’t share your card details. Basic stuff. Three hours later, I walked out with my phone in my hand, but a completely different feeling in my chest. Because the session wasn’t really about […]
Just because someone communicates with your child online doesn't mean they're a trustworthy friend. This sobering reality came to light during a cybersecurity training session organized by Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA). The training was aimed at combating child online protection, a critical issue that parents, children, and families must address to ensure a secure digital environment.
The session highlighted four major threats children face online: grooming, cyberbullying, sextortion, and exposure to harmful content. Grooming involves adults pretending to be teenagers to gain children's trust on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, or gaming sites. Cyberbullying occurs in group chats where a child is singled out, and the bullying content spreads, causing shame and distress.
Sextortion lures children into sending explicit photos, then threatens to expose them unless the child pays or sends more. Last, harmful content ranges from violent videos to suicide challenges and pornography, all easily accessible online.
Experts emphasized the importance of parents initiating regular conversations about their children's online activities and setting boundaries rather than outright bans. They suggested having screen time limits, agreeing on permissible apps, and keeping devices in shared spaces. The '3 Rs' - Recognize, Refuse, Report - were also stressed. Children should be taught to identify grooming or bullying, refuse to participate, and report incidents to trusted adults or the CSA via their hotline (292 or 050-160-3111).
The training underscored the urgency of the issue, citing a surge in child exploitation cases reported by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2020. With over 11 million social media users in Ghana and internet penetration rapidly increasing, the problem is more pressing than ever. Ghana's Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) criminalizes online child sexual exploitation, abuse, and related cyber offenses. However, many remain unaware of these legal protections and reporting avenues.
The reporter personally reflected on the training, noting the awkwardness of discussing online safety with her younger sister. Despite the initial discomfort, the conversation led to positive outcomes, such as the installation of "Restricted Mode" on her sister's YouTube account. The reporter concluded that online safety is not a one-time training but a continuous habit that families must integrate into their daily routines.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
