Don't leave children to navigate the internet alone – Christopher Azobli

Parents have been urged to take greater responsibility for their children’s online activities as growing access to smartphones and social media platforms exposes young people to cyberbullying, fraud, sexual exploitation, trafficking and other dangers that could threaten their mental health, education and personal safety.

The call was made by Cyber Security Enthusiast Christopher Azobli during a cyber hygiene training session at the Young and Safe Bootcamp in the Ho Municipality.

He cautioned that the innocence and limited experience of young people make them particularly vulnerable to manipulation by people who deliberately exploit the anonymity of the internet.

He said many young people venture into online spaces without adequate knowledge of how to identify threats, making them easy targets for criminals and other individuals with harmful intentions.

“It is very dangerous on the internet because there are a lot of things they don't have much information about on how to navigate their way through the system. Because of that, most of them are being lured into activities that are dangerous for their lives and safety,” he said.

Azobli therefore called for stronger parental supervision, stressing that parents should not assume that providing their children with smartphones automatically means they are capable of using them safely.

He also urged parents to educate themselves about the digital environment so they can effectively guide their children, while calling for cyber hygiene education to be expanded beyond schools to churches, communities and other public spaces.

“Parents should continue to keep an eye on their children. There should be more cyber hygiene education, not only in Ho but across other regions and parts of Ghana. Schools, churches and other places need to be educated because a lot of young people have access to devices and go to places online without anybody's oversight,” he stated.

Azobli’s presentation focused on how young people can protect themselves online, including websites they should avoid, activities that could expose them to danger and the impact of excessive use of digital devices on their mental health.

He warned that young people are increasingly exposed to cyberbullying, online fraud, scams, theft of personal information and harmful websites.

He also cautioned against excessive social media use, particularly at night, which can interfere with sleep, education and psychological well-being.

According to him, young people between 15 and 19 years are particularly vulnerable because they are increasingly active online while still developing the judgement needed to identify and avoid dangerous situations.

Azobli further raised concerns about online recruitment into pornography, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

He urged young people to be suspicious of strangers who offer attractive promises, including opportunities to travel abroad, secure employment or make quick money.

He said criminals can establish relationships with young people online before gradually manipulating them into dangerous situations.

The facilitator also encouraged young people to protect their personal information, avoid sharing sensitive photographs or details with strangers and report suspicious online interactions instead of responding to them privately.

A teacher at Nuriya Islamic Junior High School, Fuseinatu Jibrilla, supported the call for greater parental involvement, saying many learners spend considerable time on their phones at home without adequate supervision.

“Our learners use phones a lot. Most of the time, their concentration is on the phone, especially when they go home. Most of their parents don't stay around, so they stay on their own and there is no control,” she said.

She called on organisers of the programme to extend cyber hygiene education to parents and communities.

“I have suggested to the organisers to come to the community and talk to the parents. Sometimes we teachers are doing our best, but at home that is where the problem is coming from. Parents should also be educated so they can help us achieve what we intend to do,” she added.

A student participant, Emanuela Hodzor of Bankoe Central Roman Catholic Junior High School, described the bootcamp as educative and impactful, particularly because facilitators provided detailed explanations of the issues discussed.

The Young and Safe Project, implemented by a consortium led by Node Eight, in partnership with LoveAid Foundation, the Ghana Education Service and the Ho Municipal Assembly, seeks to promote youth-friendly communities, strengthen young people’s participation in governance and improve their overall well-being.

The project is funded by Fondation Botnar, a Swiss philanthropic organisation, and managed by Ecorys UK under the Healthy Cities for Adolescents programme.

As part of efforts to sustain its impact, Young and Safe Clubs are being established in participating schools to continue peer education on mental health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and cyber hygiene.

Azobli said protecting young people online must become a shared responsibility involving parents, schools, communities and government, particularly as the digital world becomes an increasingly important part of young people’s lives.