ZIMBABWE is steadily embracing the digital revolution. Smartphones, tablets, computers and affordable internet bundles are now part of everyday life for millions of citizens.
For children, this transformation has opened doors to knowledge, creativity and global interaction that previous generations could scarcely imagine. A pupil in Chipinge can now attend an online lesson, a teenager in Bulawayo can learn coding from YouTube, and a child in Gokwe can communicate instantly with relatives abroad.
Yet alongside these opportunities there is growing and often overlooked danger, our children are being exposed to online risks that many parents, schools and institutions are ill-prepared to manage.
As more Zimbabwean children gain access to Information and Communication Technology devices, the urgent question confronting our nation, is this how do we protect our children in a digital age?
Zimbabwe’s youthful population is increasingly digital. According to studies conducted by Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, a significant proportion of children now access the internet before the age of 13, primarily through mobile phones. Social media platforms, messaging applications and video-sharing sites dominate their online activities.
For many families, providing a smartphone to a child is seen as an investment in education and safety. Parents want their children to research homework, access e-learning platforms and stay in touch when travelling to and from school.
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However, these same devices can become gateways to cyberbullying, pornography, online grooming, scams, violent content and addictive behaviour.
Unlike previous risks that were largely confined to physical spaces, digital threats can enter the home silently and at any hour. A child sitting quietly in a bedroom may be exposed to more danger than one playing outside on the street.
Cyberbullying has become one of the most common forms of harm experienced by young internet users. Hurtful messages, humiliating images and online shaming can spread rapidly and remain permanently accessible. For a developing child, this can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and, in extreme cases, self-harm.
Another major concern is online sexual exploitation. Predators often disguise themselves as peers, gradually building trust before manipulating children into sharing explicit images or agreeing to meet offline. Once compromising material is obtained, victims are frequently blackmailed into further exploitation.
Children are also vulnerable to exposure to explicit sexual material, hate speech, extremist content and graphic violence. Such exposure can distort their understanding of relationships, desensitise them to cruelty and negatively influence behaviour. In addition, online scams increasingly target minors. Fake competitions, gaming scams and phishing links can lead to financial losses or identity theft, particularly when children use their parents’ mobile money or banking details without understanding the risks.
Parents and guardians remain the first and most important line of defence. Yet many adults did not grow up with the internet and struggle to understand the platforms their children use.
This digital gap leaves children navigating complex online environments largely on their own.
Some parents believe that simply owning a phone makes a child “modern” or “educated”, without recognising the responsibilities that come with connectivity. Others fear that strict monitoring will damage trust or provoke rebellion.
Experts argue that the solution lies not in banning technology, but in guided and informed use. Parents should talk openly with their children about online risks, establish rules on screen time, and encourage children to report uncomfortable experiences without fear of punishment.
Simple measures such as keeping devices out of bedrooms at night, using parental control software, and regularly reviewing privacy settings can make a significant difference.
Schools occupy a strategic position in promoting digital safety. Beyond teaching basic computer skills, schools must incorporate digital citizenship into the curriculum. Children need to learn about online etiquette, privacy, consent, critical thinking and how to recognise suspicious behaviour.
Teachers themselves require training to understand emerging online trends and threats. Without this knowledge, they cannot effectively guide learners or identify warning signs of online abuse. Partnerships between schools, parents and child-protection organisations can strengthen awareness campaigns and ensure consistent messaging. A child, who hears the same safety principles at home and at school, is more likely to take them seriously.
The Zimbabwean government has acknowledged the growing dangers facing children online. Through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, consultations have been held towards establishing a National Child Online Protection Policy.
The policy seeks to create a coordinated framework for preventing online abuse, responding to incidents, and promoting safe digital practices.
Regulators, such as the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, have also emphasised that content providers must adhere to standards that protect minors from harmful material. However, regulation alone cannot keep pace with the vast and constantly evolving digital landscape.
Effective child online protection requires cooperation between government, telecommunications companies, internet service providers, schools, civil society and families. It also demands adequate funding, enforcement mechanisms and continuous review. Several non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe are actively working to promote digital safety awareness. These groups conduct workshops, develop educational materials and engage communities in discussions about responsible technology use.
Community-based approaches are particularly important in rural and low-income areas, where access to information may be limited and cultural barriers can hinder open discussion about issues such as sexual exploitation.
Traditional leaders, faith-based organisations and youth clubs can play a powerful role in reinforcing messages about child protection and moral responsibility in the digital sphere.
While technology introduces risks, it can also offer solutions. Parental control applications, content filters and age-appropriate platforms can help reduce exposure to harmful material.
Telecommunications companies can provide child-friendly data packages that restrict access to certain categories of content.
Social media platforms must also be held accountable for protecting minors. Stronger age-verification systems, rapid reporting mechanisms and prompt removal of abusive content are essential.
At the same time, children should be empowered to use technology positively. Coding clubs, online libraries, virtual science labs and educational games can channel digital engagement towards productive outcomes.
Child online safety is fundamentally a human rights issue. Children have the right to access information and technology, but they also have the right to protection from harm. These rights must be balanced carefully.
Policies and interventions should prioritise the best interests of the child, ensuring that measures do not unnecessarily restrict freedom of expression or access to knowledge while still providing robust safeguards.
Listening to children’s voices is also crucial. Young people understand their online environments better than many adults and can offer valuable insights into emerging risks and effective solutions.
The country can either allow digital expansion to outpace child protection or it can proactively build a safer digital ecosystem.
This will require:
- Comprehensive national policy on child online protection;
- Continuous public awareness campaigns;
- Integration of digital safety into school curricula;
- Training for parents, teachers, as well as law-enforcement officers; and
- Strong partnerships between government, industry and civil society.
Most importantly, it requires a collective shift in mind-set. Child safety in the digital age is not solely a government responsibility, nor solely a parental one. It is a shared national duty.
As Zimbabwe accelerates towards a technology-driven future, we must ensure that progress does not come at the expense of our children’s wellbeing.
A society is ultimately judged by how it protects its most vulnerable. In the digital era, that protection must extend beyond physical spaces and into the online world where today’s children increasingly live, learn and grow.
Let us protect our children on our cyberspace.
Mutisi is a local commentator. — +263772278161.