The External Affairs Manager of Afrikids, a child right NGO, Raymond Ayinne has encouraged parents to invest in providing the right online protection tool kits and systems. This will prevent their children from wandering or coming across content that is not age-appropriate.
Some of these systems could be powerful antiviruses that prevent access to certain websites, proper pins and passwords that will deter children from accessing the electronic devices of parents without supervision and offering age-appropriate app options like Youtube Kids.
Mr Ayinne said this when he spoke on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East about the Africa Safer Internet Use Day.
Afrikids partnered with the media and members of academia to mark the Africa Safer Internet Day (ASID). The Africa Safer Internet Day was a general discussion by all African International Telecommunication Union (ITU) members’ states to begin to champion the Celebration of the Day within the continent effective 2020. This enables the choice of theme for the celebration to take on board the peculiar and diverse needs of the continent. The day is to provide a common platform for stakeholders to draw the attention of parents and guardians to help create and manage safe spaces on the internet for children.
Mr. Ayinne also encouraged parents and guardians to have honest conversations about the use of the internet and its impact on their children. This he said will help children understand the consequences of their choices on the internet and allow them to make the right choices.
Adding to the aforementioned, the HoD of the ICT Department at the C.K Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Professor Edward Baagyere suggested the implementation of social contracts with children on the use of electronic devices and the internet. He said if there a clear guidelines on the use of electronic devices and the internet, children would be reminded to be on their best behaviour because they know that their choices; good or bad, have direct and immediate as well as long term ramifications.
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The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer at Afrikids, Daniel Kpabitey encouraged parents and guardians to build trust with their children. He explained that when this happens, children would be able to ask necessary questions and get the proper answers from their parents rather than their friends who may offer dangerous information.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga|Ghana
