Kisumu parents have been urged to be wary of their children’s online activities.
Speaking on Monday, Kisumu Children’s Rights Officer Peter Ogutu said most parents forget to monitor their children's online activities which have adverse effects.
Ogutu noted that with the digital world, children have greater access to online activities unlike the past.
He explained that the internet poses a number of risks to the children especially the youth who are curious to explore much.
“Increased access and knowledge in the field of technology which has led to easier access to the internet not only comes with benefit but challenges that may have irreversible consequences if not tamed,” Ogutu said.
He cautioned that there are predators of children on social media that have mastered the art of deceiving innocent and naïve individuals on the internet.
“The internet provides a forum for interaction where there are opportunists who want to exploit every opportunity. They have a wide ‘market’ and access to thousands despite their geographical locations,” he noted.
The technology expert stated that there are numerous instances of online abuse, citing internet bullying and child pornography as the main online criminality common among children.
“The founder of Blue Whales game on Facebook was able to successfully cause the suicide of more than 100 teenagers across the world without physically being in contact with them by spreading harmful ideologies and allocating tasks to them,” Ogutu explained.
He divulged that child internet pornography generates huge sum of money and parents should be wary before their children get exposed to the various online sites.
“Children fall prey of pornography once they have access to internet sites that require them to enter their details and this is how they find themselves recruited into this pornographic sites,” he narrated.
“Ensure pornographic sites are restricted before you give your child a phone, ensure that you track their online activities always,"he added.