Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Meta in partnership with Ethnikids recently launched a free comic book for South Africans to ensure the safety of teens online.
In an effort to address the dangers of the internet for South African teenagers and youngsters, Meta and Ethnikids, an online bookstore specialising in children’s books, have launched a youth safety educational comic book titled EbaSafeOnline – which, in Sesotho, means “be safe online”.
The aim of the project is to empower youngsters with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the online world safely, particularly when using social media platforms.
This is an important initiative for South Africa given that in 2021, the Film and Publication Board reported that cases of children being targeted for grooming online were on the rise.
This is further exacerbated by the fact that parents are buying kids as young as 10 smartphones and other devices without installing any filtering software to enhance their safety online.
Sylvia Musalagani, Meta’s safety policy manager for Africa, Middle East, & Turkey, expressed the company’s dedication to fostering secure online relationships, especially among young people.
“We want people, especially young people, to foster their online relationships in a secure environment and leave our apps feeling positive about the time they spend on them.
“Our collaboration with Ethnikids and the launch of EbaSafeOnline ensures we can continue to educate both parents and young people on healthy digital habits in new engaging ways,” she said.
The comic book was developed in collaboration with author and anthropologist Lebohang Masango and Mfundo Ndevu, who was the illustrator.
Co-founder of Ethnikids, Khumo Tapumaneyi, highlighted the importance of inclusivity and literacy in all spaces.
“It’s been a wonderful honour and privilege to work on this project with the amazing storyteller that is Lebohang Masango and the gifted talent that is Mfundo Ndevu!
“It’s aligned with everything we believe in – inclusivity and literacy in all spaces! As parents, it has been eye-opening to learn about all the things that Meta is doing to promote safety online,” she said.
In an effort to further enhance the impact of the EbaSafeOnline campaign and facilitate a positive dialogue between parents and their teenagers, Meta has partnered with local content creators Melanie Bala and Gugu Nyantsumba.
Their role is to educate parents about the available tools and resources that can support a safe and enriching online experience for South African teenagers.
This added dimension of the campaign underlines the collective effort to ensure the digital well-being of the nation’s youth.
The online edition of EbaSafeOnline is now available as a free download, accessible through Meta’s newly launched South Africa Family Centre and the My Digital World website, which offers training resources for youths and adults.
The comic book is available in 11 official languages of South Africa, making it accessible to a diverse range of young readers.
This inclusivity highlights the commitment to ensuring that every child in South Africa has the opportunity to learn about online safety.
Print copies of the comic book will also be distributed to schools across South Africa through a partnership with organisations like Digify Africa.
This initiative aims to extend the reach of the vital online safety education programme to students across the country.
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