Initiated in 2004, Safer Internet Day is a global celebration that seeks to promote the safe and responsible use of digital technology, particularly by young people and children. It is a call to citizens, organisations, and governments to come together to ensure a safer and more accessible online world. With the internet playing an increasingly central role in learning, social life, and play, ensuring young users are protected is more important than ever.

Policies to promote the safety of the youth and children

Kenya has made attempts to ensure increased cybersecurity as well as safe online conduct. The Kenya Information and Communications Act of 1998 is the enabling act for cybersecurity, which demands the establishment of a national management system for cybersecurity.

The National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team – Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC) is a significant project under this umbrella. It is operated by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and is tasked with the detection, prevention, and response to cyber threats to Kenya’s digital infrastructure. KE-CIRT/CC offers cyber threat advisories, forensic support, and incident coordination and works with local and foreign partners to improve Kenya’s cyber resilience. It also conducts public awareness campaigns to educate citizens, especially the youth, on online safety best practices.

Internet and social media adoption in Kenya and Africa

The internet is still a significant part of daily life, especially among the youth. As of January 2024, there were approximately 22.71 million internet users in Kenya, with an internet penetration rate of 40.8%. Social media use is also present, with 13.05 million users, which represents 23.5% of the population. Kenyans are among the most socially engaged individuals in the world, averaging three hours and 43 minutes each day on social platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Since online access provides so many opportunities for learning and interaction, it is also exposing children to cyberbullying, web scams, data theft, and access to inappropriate material. Parents, educators, and decision-makers must implement processes that protect kids but enable them to benefit from the virtual community.

A safer internet for children and youth

Parental Guidance and Digital Literacy: Parents must inform their children about online safety, monitor their use of the internet, and encourage responsible digital behaviour.

1. The Government’s Role: The government should continue working to keep pace with evolving cyber threats. This includes enforcing age-appropriate content standards, cracking down on online exploitation, and ensuring accountability for digital platforms.

1. School and Community Awareness Programmes: The government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, can explore investing in large-scale digital literacy campaigns to teach children, parents, and educators about online risks and how to stay safe.

1. Encouraging Industry Responsibility: Social media companies and internet service providers need to be compelled to implement stronger privacy protections, improve content moderation, and develop better reporting mechanisms for abusive content. 

Encouraging Healthy Online Interactions: Adolescents should be encouraged to use the internet for learning, skill acquisition, and healthy online interactions rather than wrong or damaging information.