People born in the last decade and a half are digital natives. Smartphones, tablets and computers have been in their faces and hands almost from the day they were born.
The internet is now more accessible than ever and can be a force for good as well as evil.
Cybercrime cases such as digital kidnapping, cyberbullying, and online scams have become rampant issues in society today.
This is what prompted Lillian Kariuki to start Watoto Watch Network, a non-governmental organization that aims to teach both children and parents about safety online.
A young woman with a passion for children, Lillian learned all there was to protect children on the internet by asking the right questions and doing the research.
“My passion has always been to make a positive impact when working with children, and what better way than to teach them how to be safe on the internet space?” said Lillian.
Her eyes light up when she starts talking about child online safety and she passionately insists on the importance of parents making sure that their children are monitored in the online space, to protect them from cybercrime.
Watoto Watch Network, which has been around for a decade now, takes part in the Safer Internet Day (SID) commemoration, which was celebrated on the 7th of February this year.
The day is celebrated with different themes every year, in a bid to raise awareness on the major issues surrounding child online safety and how society can contribute to teaching children how to be safe online. For this year, the theme driving the day was “Together for a better internet”.
Parents who are interested in learning more about Child Online Safety, can visit www.watotowatchnetwork.org to find out more on Watoto Watch Network, and the tools they as parents can use at home to protect their children from internet vices.
Watch Lillian’s take on SID below.
