PARENTS are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's lives through social networks.
The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, in partnership with Google, has launched an Online Child Safety and Protection Campaign.
Cyberspace has been recognised as a major a problem for children.
Minister Lulu Xingwana said there was a need to create an online environment for children who are exposed to the world of the Internet.
"The advent of cyberspace and mobile technology has increased children's vulnerability," she said.
Xingwana added that parents needed to be the central solution to the safety of their children.
A family safety website has been launched to help get parents actively involved in protecting children from viewing explicit content.
Xingwana said this partnership was aimed at educating parents about the social networks that children engage in.
"We need parents to familiarise themselves with the Internet and the websites that children are visiting."
Film and Publication Board chief executive Yoliwa Makhasi urged parents to protect children against the exposure to pornography.
"Parents need to know what the children are sharing in their cellphones. The issue of sexual images is on the rise and as a parent who buys the phone for the child you have the right to search the phone," she said.
Mxit brand marketer Sarah Strauss said parents should be educated about how to play safe on social networks.
"Parents need to be educated about how to play safe online.This will give parents the skill in how to prevent children from cyber bullying," she said.
Cyber expert Piet Stretcher highlighted issues such as cyber bullying and access to adult content as problems that children face on a daily basis. He also warned children to think before they post content online that will at a later stage reflect badly on them.
"It is critical to teach children to think before they publish, because when they grow up all this content becomes evident when they seek employment and companies check profiles online," he said.
Playing safe on social networks
PARENTS are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's lives through social networks.
The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, in partnership with Google, has launched an Online Child Safety and Protection Campaign.
Cyberspace has been recognised as a major a problem for children.
Minister Lulu Xingwana said there was a need to create an online environment for children who are exposed to the world of the Internet.
"The advent of cyberspace and mobile technology has increased children's vulnerability," she said.
Xingwana added that parents needed to be the central solution to the safety of their children.
A family safety website has been launched to help get parents actively involved in protecting children from viewing explicit content.
Xingwana said this partnership was aimed at educating parents about the social networks that children engage in.
"We need parents to familiarise themselves with the Internet and the websites that children are visiting."
Film and Publication Board chief executive Yoliwa Makhasi urged parents to protect children against the exposure to pornography.
"Parents need to know what the children are sharing in their cellphones. The issue of sexual images is on the rise and as a parent who buys the phone for the child you have the right to search the phone," she said.
Mxit brand marketer Sarah Strauss said parents should be educated about how to play safe on social networks.
"Parents need to be educated about how to play safe online.This will give parents the skill in how to prevent children from cyber bullying," she said.
Cyber expert Piet Stretcher highlighted issues such as cyber bullying and access to adult content as problems that children face on a daily basis. He also warned children to think before they post content online that will at a later stage reflect badly on them.
"It is critical to teach children to think before they publish, because when they grow up all this content becomes evident when they seek employment and companies check profiles online," he said.