ZIM PLANS TO PROTECT ITS KIDS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA HARM

H-Metro Reporter

THE path, which Zimbabwe plans to walk by formulating a policy to ban underage children from accessing and using Social Media platforms, has already been walked by Australia.

Many countries, including Spain and Indonesia, also want to follow a similar path.

Australia became the first country in the world to impose a nationwide ban from all social media platforms for its children who are Under-16.

The proposed Child Online Protection Policy framework in Zimbabwe seeks to bring responsible use of the internet in the digital era, while at the same time not taking away the rights of minors.

Speaking in Hurungwe on Sunday, ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Tatenda Mavetera, said the policy, which is still at formulation stages, was a response to abuse by learners, among them teenagers.

She said the policy also intends to protect the mental health of the minors from the harmful information found online.

“We are now in the process of formulating a Child Online Protection Policy that is aimed at protecting our children from dangers and harm associated with Social Media,” she said.

“The policy would seek to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of majority.”