THE childhood experience has shifted from play-based to phone-based worldwide. In Zimbabwe, as in the rest of the world, social media seems to have become the primary playground for the young person.
While the internet offers unlimited access to information, it also exposes children to cyber-bullying, grooming and other mental health ills.
While Zimbabwe has strengthened protection through its legal framework, in the form of the Cyber and Data Protection Act and the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, it finds itself at the centre of a global conversation: Is it time to restrict or ban social media access for the sake of the next generation?
What duty do decision-makers owe future generations when it comes to stronger protective measures against cyber ills?
The global shift: from regulation to prohibition?
Zimbabwe’s efforts to protect children online are commendable. It is, however, a start as the digital era seems to be growing at a fast space and at times faster than the responses that governments put in place.
The conversations on the need to improve protections stem from artificial intelligence advancements.
For years, the consensus focused on digital literacy that is, teaching children how to navigate risks. However, a new wave of experiences suggests that literacy is not enough.
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A number of countries have started discussions on banning access for children in order to improve protection.
The push for these bans is heavily influenced by social psychologists like Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation.
Haidt’s research proposes a simple but controversial rule: No smartphones before age 14 and no social media until age 16.
Haidt argues that social media platforms are designed to be experience blockers.
By keeping children glued to screens, they miss out on critical developmental milestones like face-to-face social interaction, physical play and restorative sleep.
The always-on nature of social media creates a state of perpetual awakeness and social anxiety, which Haidt links directly to the global surge in adolescent depression.
For a country like Zimbabwe, where traditional community-based upbringing is highly valued, the isolation caused by social media represents a significant cultural and psychological threat.
The Zimbabwean context
Zimbabwe has not yet moved towards an outright ban, but its legislative framework is among the most comprehensive in southern Africa.
The protection of children in Zimbabwe’s digital space is primarily governed by the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07] and the Children’s Amendment Act (2023).
These laws collectively criminalise activities such as cyber-grooming where an adult establishes an online relationship with a minor for sexual purposes and the production or distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Under the Cyber and Data Protection Act, the processing of a child’s personal data strictly requires the consent of a parent or legal guardian thereby placing a "digital lock" on how companies can use a minor’s information.
The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], recently updated by the Criminal Law Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, 2024, provides the teeth for enforcement.
Section 164B of the Code specifically addresses cyber-bullying and harassment, making it a crime to send data messages intended to coerce, intimidate or cause emotional distress.
Furthermore, the legal age of consent has been raised to 18 years, ensuring that any sexual solicitation or indecent act facilitated via social media is treated with the highest level of criminal severity.
How can Zimbabwe improve?
While Zimbabwe’s laws are strong on paper, the transition from law to lived reality requires further action. To stay ahead of the curve and perhaps even lead the region, Zimbabwe should consider the following:
Technical enforcement and age verification
Following the Australian model, Zimbabwe could move towards requiring social media platforms to implement more stringent age verification tools.
Relying on a child simply clicking a "I am over 13" box is no longer sufficient. Local regulators like Potraz (Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe) must hold platforms accountable for allowing underage users.
Mandatory digital awareness in schools
The Primary and Secondary Education ministry should integrate digital safety into the national curriculum.
Children need to be taught not just how to use a computer, but how to identify red flags in online interactions.
This includes understanding the permanence of their digital footprint and the legal consequences of cyber-bullying under the Criminal Law Code. The ministry can team up with entities like Childline which are already implementing a safety online programme in Zimbabwe.
Parental empowerment
Many Zimbabwean parents are not digitally aware enough to provide the primary safeguards needed to protect and monitor their children’s online activities.
District Social Development (DSD)-led community programmes can help to bridge this gap. DSD should start teaching parents how to use parental controls and how to have open conversations about online safety.
Public-private partnerships
The government should collaborate with mobile network operators (MNOs) like Econet, NetOne and Telecel to zero-rate reporting portals and helplines.
If a child is being bullied or groomed on WhatsApp, they should be able to report without needing data. It should be easy to flag and report child abuse and possible child grooming.
A final call to action
The digital world is no longer a separate reality, it is where our children live, learn and socialise.
Zimbabwe has laid a formidable legal foundation through the Cyber and Data Protection Act and the Criminal Law Codification Act. Potraz has gone further to provide easy to complete reporting forms.
As nations like Australia and Denmark move towards bold prohibitions, Zimbabwe must decide if its current "protection-through-punishment" model is enough or if it must move towards a "prevention-through-restriction" model.
By combining strong laws with digital literacy, technical oversight and multi-stakeholder co-operation, Zimbabwe can ensure that the "anxious" generation becomes a protected one.
The goal is not to fear technology, but to master it by ensuring that the digital frontier remains a space of opportunity rather than a site of exploitation for children and future generations. The safeguards are a necessity.
This conversation continues in the next article for next week.…
- Chinga Govhati is a child protection advocate. She can be contacted on [email protected].
- Pamellah Musimwa is a child rights lawyer and can be contacted on [email protected].
