This archive report was first published on 21 June 2020.
As schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyan parents are struggling to control the online content their children access, with many relying on technology for learning and socialization.
According to ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, there has been a significant increase in the use of technology over the past three months, with most learning taking place online.
Speaking during a press briefing on Sunday, Mucheru noted that families are straining to understand how to manage and control how their kids are using mobile devices or laptops.
He directed the Communications Authority to work closely with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to ensure that children are protected online and parents learn how to filter websites from harmful content.
Within the next 7 days, the Communication Authority and ISPs are expected to provide a clear roadmap on how to train internet users to ensure that the Kenyan cyberspace is safe.
Experts warn that children are at greater risk of cyberbullying as they spend more time online, with the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union (ITU) estimating that 1.5 billion children are out of school due to lockdown measures.
Parents can protect their children by paying attention to their internet habits and teaching them how to surf the web carefully, experts say.
As parents, we have to constantly be vigilant, said Bruce Friend, the chief operating officer of Aurora Institute.
Parents should keep their child's computer or tablet in a common area when they do their online work and keep a close eye on family credit cards for any unusual charges, according to Friend.
With many students now doing remote learning from home, educators also have a role to play in protecting children from online abuse.
Teachers should keep the scope of assignments narrow and make sure the website they are instructing students to visit are trusted, Friend said.
