‘Children at risk behind screens’
Families are encouraged to stay actively involved in their children's online activities as digital threats continue to rise.
As digital platforms continue to play a major role in everyday life, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) is encouraging parents and caregivers to make online safety a key part of protecting children.
MISA CEO: Operations, Martlé Keyter, warned that parents can no longer assume children are safe simply because they are at home.
Social media allows strangers to enter a child’s bedroom without knocking. A predator does not need to wait outside a school anymore.
“He can send a friend request, pose as another child, offer attention, gifts or sympathy and slowly groom a child into secrecy,” said Keyter.
She stressed the importance of active parental involvement to help identify signs of grooming, sextortion or exploitation and to ensure incidents are reported to the South African Police Service.
According to the latest available statistics, South Africa has 50.8 million internet users and 26.7 million social media user identities.
• ALSO READ: Child abuse figures paint grim picture
Recent online safety data highlights the growing concern. The CyberTipline referred approximately 95 000 reports linked to suspected online child sexual exploitation in South Africa during 2025.
In addition, the Film and Publication Board reported that 7 461 pieces of content analysed between April and December 2024 were confirmed as child sexual abuse material. It was also reported that 24% of South African teenagers have experienced cyberbullying firsthand.
MISA is encouraging families to regularly review privacy settings, monitor online platforms, question sudden secrecy and preserve evidence such as screenshots when suspicious activity is detected.
Protecting children today means protecting them online too,” said Keyter.
She added that parents should know who their children are communicating with online, as the person on the other side of the screen may not be who they claim to be.
