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.
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 .
Online child-sexual-abuse material (CSAM) has surged at an alarming rate worldwide. While many parents picture CSAM as something hidden in dark corners of the internet, the reality is far more mainstream, frequently linked to social apps, messaging platforms, and increasingly artificial-intelligence tools that children use every day.
The digital age has ushered in unprecedented connectivity, offering numerous benefits to society. However, it has also facilitated a disturbing rise in online crimes against children, manifesting in various forms such as grooming, cyberbullying, and the dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Recent statistics reveal a concerning escalation in these offences, underscoring the urgent…
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