Influencers and content creators are urging greater collaboration between parents, government and digital platforms to ensure children are protected online, while still benefiting from the opportunities provided by technology.
The call was made during a national consultation on social media and its consequential effects on children, where digital creators shared their experiences and recommendations on building a safer online environment.
The engagement stems from government’s ongoing efforts to gather views from stakeholders as a national framework is developed to address risks associated with children’s exposure to social media, including cyberbullying, grooming, harmful content, harassment, and excessive screen use.
During the session participants were that the consultation is not about restricting technology, but about finding solutions that allow children to benefit from digital platforms while being protected from potential harm.
During the discussions, participants noted that online safety must begin with education and guidance at the household level.
One content creator and parent Susan Abraheem popularly known as ‘Saks Guyana’ shared her experience of introducing conversations about social media safety from an early age, noting that children must be guided rather than simply restricted.
“Things start from home. For me, the steps that I took, when my daughters were about eight years old, I started sitting down and literally speaking to them about social media, about grooming, about a whole different line of things,” she explained.
She further revealed that while the proposed minimum social media age of 16 years is a positive move, children between ages 13 and 15 could benefit from supervised access with parental consent.
“I feel like, as parents, we should be able to teach our children how to use social media, let them have conversations with you, because when you have open conversations instead of judging them constantly, they tend to sneak around,” she said.
Another participant raised concerns about younger children’s exposure to digital content, particularly platforms such as YouTube, and the impact of addictive features that encourage prolonged use.
The participant suggested that more research should be conducted into how digital platforms affect children’s emotional, psychological, and social development.
“We need to have proposals that consider those effects and solutions as well, that will bring forward tangible and impactful means where our children can develop not just in a safe environment but very wholesome,” the participant said.
The creation of local, age-appropriate content was also highlighted as an important step, with participants suggesting that Guyana should develop digital content that reflects the country’s culture, history, and values.
Meanwhile, another contributor, Mathew Gual said “If we can come together and have IT officials work with companies and create more content for the tender kids that would focus mainly on Guyana, our background, where our people originated from, make it fun and catchy.”
Other participants also called for stronger parental control features on devices and platforms to help caregivers manage children’s online activity.
Norman Brown also shared his approach to managing screen time, explaining that setting limits can help children develop healthier habits.
“I limit him to one hour. Afterwards, he has to go and do something else, maybe play a game, not on the phone, with his cousins or whatever the case may be,” he said.
Meanwhile, the discussion also brought to light the need to better equip parents with digital knowledge, as some caregivers may not fully understand the risks and opportunities associated with online platforms.
Rapping the midday day session with the influencers and content creators, Minister McCoy noted that the recommendations gathered from the consultation will contribute to a broader pool of feedback from stakeholder groups as government continues work towards strengthening child online protection measures.
The consultations will continue as part of efforts to develop an approach that safeguards children while encouraging responsible digital participation.5636