Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
A survey has revealed that 13 percent of the 988 children interviewed mostly aged between 16 and 17 revealed that they have been asked by someone on the internet to do something sexual while four out of five did not do what they were asked to do.
According to the survey dubbed ‘Zambia Kids Online’ conducted by Save the Children, Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, Lifeline, and Child Line Zambia that looked into Child Online Protection, a quarter of children in Zambia have had someone make sexual comments about them online that made them feel uncomfortable.
Patrick Burton, an international researcher based in South Africa, who was the lead researcher says almost three in ten children had sent a photo of themselves to someone they met online and had never met face to face.
Making a presentation of the research findings in Lusaka today, Mr. Burton says there is need to integrate online children protection into the formal child protection system, ease management, mandatory reporting among others.
And Mr Burton says many children still lack both access to the internet, and the required skills to make the most of the opportunities the internet and digital technology has to offer.
Speaking at the same event, ZIPAR Executive Director, Herrick Mpuku has noted the need for the country to invest in targeted digital and media skills enhancing programmes for the children.
And Save the Children Director of Programme, Quality and Development, Annie Hoban says 988 children and 999 parents and caregivers were spoken to during the survey.