Africa-Press – Malawi. The recent warning by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) about the surge in explicit content circulating on social media should not be viewed merely as a call for compliance—it is a national alarm. The BAZ rightly points out that “children have a right to protection from exposure to content that is harmful to their moral and psychological development.”
This statement strikes at the very heart of our collective failure as a society to shield our children from the moral chaos that has seeped through digital platforms. As gadgets become part of the learning environment, even in primary schools, we are inadvertently opening a portal that exposes our young to a world not made for their eyes or minds.
The reality is that while technology has become a cornerstone of modern education, it has also evolved into a powerful instrument of moral corrosion when left unchecked. Parents today hand over smartphones and tablets to their children in good faith, hoping these tools will assist with homework or expand learning resources. Yet, as algorithms on platforms like Facebook and TikTok increasingly amplify explicit material under the guise of popularity and engagement, our children are being fed distorted perceptions of what is normal. The BAZ’s observation that “such material is being accessed by audiences in Zimbabwe, including children,” lays bare the urgency of intervention—not just regulatory, but moral and societal.
The disturbing part is that children are not passive consumers; they are impressionable imitators. When an adult social media creators rapidly amasses millions of followers by posting “nude and erotic strip-tease video clips,” it sends a dangerous message to young viewers that such acts are the currency of fame. The child who sees this is not simply watching; they are learning, internalizing, and shaping their sense of identity around that perceived validation. If adults—who are expected to model responsibility—are themselves submerged in the same content without restraint, what chance do the young have to swim against the tide? The line between adult indulgence and youthful curiosity has blurred, and the consequences are profound.
We must face the grim reality that technology, though neutral, becomes a weapon against innocence when wielded carelessly. The issue is not merely about banning explicit videos or shutting down pages; it runs deeper into our homes, values, and digital literacy. The absence of parental guidance in the digital realm is akin to leaving a child unsupervised in a busy street. Without control, a device becomes a digital babysitter—one that nurtures addiction, confusion, and premature exposure to adult realities. This is how a generation’s moral compass begins to falter.
What must be done, then, cannot be rhetorical. It calls for a practical, multi-layered approach. Firstly, parents must reclaim their authority in their children’s digital lives. It is no longer enough to provide a gadget; there must be deliberate instruction, monitoring, and open conversation about online content. Parental control software should not be viewed as optional but as essential as the lock on the front door. Moreover, schools must integrate digital ethics into their curricula, not as a supplementary lesson but as a core component of modern education. Teaching children to discern, question, and manage what they consume online is as vital as teaching them mathematics.
At a national level, regulators like BAZ must go beyond issuing warnings. Enforcement must be visible and consistent. Social media companies operating within Zimbabwe should be compelled to implement stricter content filters, especially for users under 18. Collaboration between government agencies, technology companies, and civil society can help establish a framework that balances freedom of expression with the moral protection of minors. The enforcement measures should not be punitive alone but reformative—targeted at building a responsible digital culture.
The moral burden also lies heavily upon adult society. When parents, teachers, and leaders themselves are entangled in the allure of explicit social media content, the moral example disintegrates. It is hypocritical to demand uprightness from children when adults themselves normalize degradation. Our children mirror us; their confusion is a reflection of our disarray. As BAZ emphasizes, “Broadcasters and content creators must therefore uphold public morality and national values.” This responsibility extends beyond the content creator—it is a summons to the entire society to restore the boundaries of decency.
We are at a crossroads where digital innovation competes with moral preservation. If we fail to act decisively, we risk grooming a generation more concerned with virtual validation than real virtue. The protection of our children must move from rhetoric to action, from concern to commitment. They are not just consumers of the digital age—they are its future custodians. What they learn, witness, and emulate today will shape the moral architecture of tomorrow’s Zimbabwe. If we do not stand guard now, the very innocence we fail to protect will be the regret we cannot rewind.
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