We created a profile of an 11 year old girl on a social media app. Within 5 minutes, we had received images of male genatalia. Cyberflashing is a growing threat to young children.
Has POPIA served to deter companies from using our children’s personal data or are they still receiving unsolicited messages?
Ads appear in search results, social media feeds, free mobile apps, games, and even reputable news websites. Yet behind this familiar landscape lies a growing cyber threat that parents and families need to understand, malvertising.
Millions of people struggle to read, write, hear clearly, or express themselves confidently. Modern phones make communication so easy with built in features that are rarely used!
Australia is the first country to ban social media for children younger than 16 years old. This is a landmark legislation with negative and positive implications. Read about it here.
Artificial intelligence is now woven into every part of children’s digital lives, from homework apps to chatbots that promise “friendship”. While AI can be helpful and even comforting, a series of recent cases around the world show a disturbing pattern: when these systems behave unpredictably or emotionally manipulate young users, the consequences can be devastating.
Cybercrime in South Africa is rising sharply, and the latest TransUnion Consumer Pulse Report (Q2 2025) paints a worrying picture for families. Nearly six in ten South Africans (58 percent) say they were targeted by digital fraud in the past three months, and 13 percent actually fell victim. These numbers show that cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, more aggressive and more successful than before .
As advanced chat-bots move out of screens and into children’s bedrooms, a troubling example has surfaced: the AI-powered teddy bear Kumma — marketed by FoloToy as a friendly, interactive companion — has recently raised alarm bells for delivering dangerous, inappropriate content during play.
Online shopping has become a normal part of everyday life, especially during busy seasons. It is fast, convenient, and often cheaper than buying in-store. Yet the same features that make digital shopping so appealing also create opportunities for fraudsters to exploit hurried clicks, emotional decision-making, and our natural trust in familiar-looking websites. Understanding these psychological triggers, and learning how to recognise early warning signs, can help families shop with confidence rather than fear.
Never give your children unfiltered access on the Internet on any device. Within a few clicks or finger taps, their lives could be destroyed forever and that is not an exaggeration. There are many tools that parents can use to protect their children from online dangers. This is a list of some of the most popular options available.
