HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN ONLINE: TOP PARENTAL CONTROL TOOLS

IN A WORLD where even our toddlers can navigate a tablet better than we can, the digital landscape in South Africa has changed fast.

- GERRY CUPIDO

BEING online exposes children to the unknown. | Pexels

(Pexels)

While the internet is an incredible tool for school research and staying in touch with relatives in other parts of the world, it has also become a somewhat wild frontier.

In fact, the global community is taking this so seriously that Australia recently made history. As of late 2025, they have enforced a landmark law that sets a minimum age of 16 for social media use. Under this new rule, major platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X must take active steps to keep under-16s off their sites or face massive fines.

While we do not have a law like that in South Africa yet, it is a massive wake-up call for us. It highlights a growing global consensus: the digital world, while full of opportunity, carries risks that young minds simply are not equipped to handle alone.

With cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and “stranger danger” moving from the playground to the palm of their hands, keeping an eye on the digital footprints of our children is no longer about being overprotective. It is about basic safety.