Countries like Australia and the United Kingdom are cracking down with strict social media age limits, but Minister Solly Malatsi says bans don’t work. Instead, he is pushing for a more balanced strategy, focused on digital literacy.
What do you think is the best way to protect South African children online?
- Enforce strict social media age bans
- Focus on digital literacy and empower parents
- Impose penalties on tech giants who fail to self-regulate
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voters
Bans are not the answer. They are easily bypassed and hard to enforce. Parents are responsible for raising their children and this is just one more thing to care about. The tools exist on most smart phones and devices to regulate access to social media platforms and screen time, many of them at not cost, it just requires a little bit of effort. My wife and I sat down with our child when she was 11 and got her first smart device and explained the rules around it. We have discussed the limits with her every year and adjusted them accordingly as she has grown up and her needs have changed.
Parents should not be abdicating this responsibility.
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