Child Online Abuse: A Public Health Crisis In The Digital Age

Urgent Call to Action on Child Online Safety

In a significant move, health experts, child rights advocates, and civil society organizations are sounding the alarm on child online abuse, labeling it a public health emergency that requires immediate attention. Speaking at a Child Online Safety Media and Advocacy Roundtable in Abuja, organized by Gatefield and partners, these stakeholders emphasized the urgent need for stronger laws, increased parental supervision, and collective responsibility to protect Nigerian children from harmful digital content.

Dr. Chioma Kanu, Executive Director of the MAMA Centre, stressed that child online safety transcends being merely a child rights issue, framing it as a public health concern with profound implications for mental health and development. She highlighted the rapid development of children's brains between ages zero and seven, making them especially susceptible to damaging online content.

“We are facing a mental health pandemic, and we must act now,” Dr. Kanu declared, underscoring the critical need for media to drive action and awareness.

Weak Regulations and Platform Accountability

Ms. Christina Akintoye, Lead Campaigns and Communications Strategist at Gatefield, pointed out that despite having Africa’s largest internet population, Nigeria lacks adequate protections for children's online safety. Citing data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, Akintoye revealed that many Nigerian children are exposed to sexual content online or face unwanted sexual solicitations, with harmful content sometimes remaining accessible for over 48 hours.

She argued for stronger regulation and platform accountability, mirroring measures taken by countries like the UK and Australia, to ensure technology companies are held responsible while protecting children. Akintoye's campaign, “Every Second Counts,” aims to keep child online safety at the forefront of national discourse, rallying parents, the media, and policymakers for stronger digital protections.

Parental Role and Legislative Action

Highlighting the crucial role of parents, Mrs. Emmanuella Iyayi, Convener of Chazown by Ella’s Bookclub, advocated for active supervision of children's online activities and digital literacy before granting access to internet-enabled devices. She likened unrestricted internet access to handing children "a loaded gun," emphasizing the importance of parental guidance.

In a unified voice, stakeholders called on the National Assembly to fast-track the Child Online Access Protection Bill, which promises to enhance accountability among tech companies and improve child safeguards. They emphasized that child online safety demands a concerted effort from the government, schools, tech firms, civil society, media, and families, ensuring safer digital environments for Nigerian youths.