Do not let social media raise children
DAR ES SALAAM: CHILDREN’S safety must not be sacrificed at the altar of technological convenience. As social media becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, parents and the government must act decisively to protect young users from online dangers, manipulation and harmful content.
We may debate on this as an appropriate age to allow children to engage in the social media, but with consequences, where growing digital connectivity is expanding, our children will not be safe.
Parents must recognise that providing smartphones is not the same as preparing children to use them responsibly. Young children lack the maturity to assess every message, identify manipulation or distinguish credible information from fabricated content. Unrestricted access exposes them to risks that can affect their safety, behaviour and development.
Parents should therefore establish clear rules on screen time, monitor online activities, use available parental controls and discuss digital risks openly with their children. Devices should not become substitutes for parental attention. Where children are too young to understand online dangers, restricting access is a necessary act of responsible parenting, not punishment.
However, families cannot win this battle alone. The government must strengthen regulations requiring technology companies to provide effective age protections, respond to harmful content and make their platforms safer for children. Companies must not place commercial interests above the welfare of vulnerable users.
Tanzania should also strengthen public education on digital parenting and cybersecurity, equipping parents, teachers and children with practical skills to navigate online spaces safely. Schools can reinforce these lessons by teaching responsible technology use, privacy protection, source verification and critical thinking.
Artificial intelligence adds urgency to this responsibility. Digitally manipulated images, videos and fabricated information are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. Children need guidance to question what they encounter online rather than accept every trending post as truth. Technology companies should clearly identify artificially generated content and improve transparency over how algorithms recommend material to users.
Media organisations also have a responsibility to promote information integrity through verification and responsible reporting. Yet the primary responsibility for protecting young children must remain shared among families, government, educators and technology companies.
Tanzania must not wait for widespread harm before responding. Policymakers should establish enforceable, evidence-based protections, while ensuring that digital safety measures respect children’s rights and support appropriate access to educational technology.
Parents must be vigilant, governments must be firm, and technology companies must be accountable. Protecting children online is not an optional extra; it is a collective duty that demands immediate action.
