The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund has raised concerns about the potential downsides of prohibiting social media access for children, following Australia's recent ban on use by those under 16. Experts emphasize the need for parental guidance and adherence to health guidelines rather than outright restrictions. South Africa is urged to carefully assess any similar measures.
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund has highlighted potential risks associated with banning social media for children, in light of Australia becoming the first nation to implement such a prohibition for those under 16. This development, announced earlier this week, has prompted discussions on balancing child protection with access to digital tools.
Samke Mnguni, Youth Leadership Programmes Manager at the fund, acknowledged Australia's bold step as prioritizing child welfare over commercial interests but stopped short of full endorsement. She stressed the importance of thorough evaluation before any adoption in South Africa. "Though I cannot say that we fully support Australia’s decision to ban social media platform use by children under the age of 16, we think Australia was bold to take this decision because it demonstrated that child welfare is more important than profits," Mnguni stated. She further noted the limitations of bans, pointing out that children may still access platforms covertly, necessitating stronger parental involvement. "When parents refuse their children to use social media platforms, it does not mean that the child will not use them. This means as parents, there needs to be firmness and constructive conversations with their children on the implications of the use of social media platforms."
Complementing this view, Early Childhood Development Specialist Kwanda Ndoda advocated for following World Health Organisation guidelines on screen time to safeguard children's health. These recommendations exclude television but cover devices like phones and tablets. Ndoda explained, "Screentime is the time spent watching a screen. The World Health Organisation has strict guidelines that everyone needs to follow for the benefit of their own health, which includes guidelines on how parents can handle screentime for children... One of the guidelines is if a parent allows a child screentime, it is important for the parent to be close by and monitor the child while the child is on screen."
This caution underscores a broader call for informed strategies that promote safe digital engagement over blanket prohibitions.
