Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group's chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer.

MTN Group yesterday gathered policymakers, educators, advocacy groups, and digital safety experts to present the findings of its Online Child Safety African Insights research, which was undertaken in collaboration with IPSOS.

The research, published yesterday, included data from Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia, shining light on crucial difficulties that children face in the digital space.

In Nigeria, more than half of children interviewed reported being bullied or harassed online, with many avoiding seeking help for fear of being judged or punished.

In South Sudan, uncontrolled access to improper content without enough parental supervision has been linked to increased stress and behavioural disorders among children.

Meanwhile, Zambian parents and educators emphasised the critical need for assistance in understanding online safety precautions.

Alarmingly, the research revealed a direct correlation between online abuse and negative mental health effects in children, such as anxiety and withdrawal.

Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group's chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, highlighted the joint responsibility for protecting children online.

She said: "This research underlines the urgency of equipping children with the skills to protect themselves online while empowering caregivers to create safer digital environments.

“MTN is steadfast in our commitment to ensure the digital world offers growth and opportunity, free from harm. However, this is a collective responsibility—we cannot do it alone.”

IPSOS associate director Marcus Hollington concurred: “The research underscores the urgency of equipping children with the skills they need to protect themselves online while also empowering the adults in their lives to provide effective support. Education and peer influence are crucial to fostering safer digital behaviours in these diverse contexts.”

The event also highlighted MTN's renewed efforts under the Help Children Be Children (HCBC) program, which focusses on preventing online child abuse and exploitation.

The HCBC campaign focuses on peer advocacy and enhancing the capabilities of caregivers and educators.

By empowering children—many of whom face online harassment and exposure to harmful content—MTN aims to create a secure digital environment, said the company.

MTN said it does so by championing online safety within its communities and equipping adults with tools and knowledge to mitigate these risks.

This approach, according to the company, not only reduces exposure to risks but also promotes positive mental health outcomes, addressing the emotional toll identified in the research.

A cornerstone of MTN's efforts, the company said, is its partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

It said: “This collaboration has resulted in the creation of the Africa-wide MTN-IWF Portal, a critical resource for reporting and addressing harmful online content.

“Accessible at Child Online Protection | MTN.com, the portal enables swift action totackle Child Sexual Abuse Material. In 2023 alone, MTN inspected over 656 million URLs using adaptive systems to block harmful sites identified by IWF.”