The Nigerian telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has taken a rare step in the comity of industry regulators to come up with practical steps to keep children safe online.
The Commission believes that the fusion of children and the internet has not given birth to new concerns as is widely perceived, it has magnified the critical need for parents and care givers to step up to the new norms of Online Life for Children, thus the need for Online Parenting. Concerns of safety and privacy have been with us from the beginning of time. What has changed however, is the invisible and borderless nature of these concerns and the magnitude of the consequences when they occur.
NCC was aware that parents have to contend with the overwhelming and scary possibility of a child being hurt by faceless individuals while surfing the internet, and a perceived inability/incapability to protect the child.
The good news is that the internet is not all gloom and doom. The internet is a world of endless possibilities waiting to be explored by young, adventurous and impressionable minds. Undoubtedly, there are many great ways children can use connected devices to learn and play, but there are also risks. With the right tools and strategy, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to support and guide children to avoid online risks and have safer experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant change in mode of operation has compelled all stakeholders, parents, care givers, governments and industry players, to actively pursue, create and promote a safe online environment for children.
Here, the Commission provide practical online safety tips for parents, care givers, and children. It covers what to do before things go wrong, while children spend time online, and what to do if things go wrong.
Business Hilights gathered that the Commission has taken into consideration the International Edition of Europol COVID-19 Global Online Safety Advice for, Parents and Carers, and the ITU’s Keeping Children Safe Online during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As we continue to run the series, the package will serve as a guide that will help Parents and Carers/Guardians during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic (To be continued tomorrow…)
