IN a time when digital gadgets are almost a part of every day, a recent study by global cybersecurity company Kaspersky has illuminated the tech practices of the younger generation in South Africa.

The results expose a startling reality: many children lack the required direction to properly negotiate the internet world even while they are depending more and more on devices.

The poll, taken in 2023 by research agency Toluna, shows that 91% of South African parents use devices to entertain or occupy their children, especially when travelling or looking for personal quiet.

Between the ages of three and seven, half of the youngsters in the nation get their first personal gadget—a tablet or smartphone. Still, 26% of South African parents confess they have not talked with their children about online safety guidelines despite early technological exposure.

Children are often left unsupervised with their devices, ignorant of the possible hazards they could come across online, so this discrepancy in advice is alarming. With smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles topping the list of most-desired items, the poll revealed that 72% of South African children felt they "cannot live without" their electronics.

Head of consumer channel in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at Kaspersky, Seifallah Jedidi underlined the need of striking a balance between gadget use and security precautions.

“Most parents offer their children devices to keep them entertained, free some time for themselves or to calm their youngsters down. Children should not, however, utilise digital gadgets mindlessly.

“Parents should instead better keep an eye on their children's digital life. Limiting screen time and having talks can help, but a security solution is also required,” he said.

Jedidi said that parental controls are more about protection than about mistrust. “Using parental control is a reasonable precaution with which you may, among other things, secure the device and the data on it; it does not indicate mistrust to your child.”

It lets parents decide which websites their kids visit and which games they play as well as forbids file downloads, content access to be blocked on unwelcome subjects, and the publication of private information.

Kaspersky’s solutions thus enable youngsters to be safe from the hazards that could exist in the internet world and help protect finances and private data from hackers.

To help parents create a safer digital environment for their children, Kaspersky recommends the following proactive steps:

Stay Informed:

Open Communication:

Install Trusted Security Solutions:

Leverage Parental Control Tools:

The poll emphasised the vital requirement of parents participating actively in the digital life of their children. Although devices are clearly a feature of modern life, it is equally crucial to make sure young users have the knowledge and tools to keep safe online.

“Protecting children in the digital space isn't just about restricting access—it's about empowering them to navigate the online world safely and responsibly,” Jedidi said.

Parents may help their children maximise the advantages of the digital age while limiting its perils by striking the ideal mix of direction, communication, and technology.