Journalists urged to promote safe use of social media

ZANZIBAR: MEDIA practitioners have been urged to promote safe Internet and social media use to protect children and other people from online violence.

They have been informed that the internet and social media pose risks to children and young people, such as sexual exploitation and abuse, bullying and radicalisation.

The plea was made by Ms Zaituni Njovu, Director of Zaina Foundation, which organised Digital Security Awareness seminar for female journalists aimed at building awareness among scribes who would then educate people on safe use of social media.

“It is unfortunate some people including youths use the internet and social media to abuse children and women and also post fake news and defamatory materials to attack leaders. This should stop immediately,” she explained.

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She also urged the media to encourage the members of the society to abstain from the habit of posting photos of their children online and social media platforms as they can be misused and increase online violence.

“According to studies, about 51 per cent of children have been molested and 85 per cent have been abused after parents posted their photos!” She also advised adults to avoid taking indecent photos of their partners because after breaking up one of the couples may decide to post them online.

Zaina Foundation Programme Officer Dorina Mathayo urged journalists to have strong passwords to protect their phones and computers so as to minimise chances of other people entering into their personal information.

Ms Thuwaiba Ali, one of training participants, thanked the foundation for organising the important and timely training for them, as they asked for more training in different areas.