As Africa’s digital transformation gathers momentum, concerns over children’s exposure to online threats have led to renewed calls for coordinated efforts to safeguard young internet users. In a recent statement following a high-level roundtable in Barcelona, the GSMA, in collaboration with mobile industry leaders, urged governments, tech firms, civil society, and families to take stronger collective action to protect children online across the continent.

Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA, emphasized the urgency of creating a safe digital environment for Africa’s growing youth population. “Children are increasingly vulnerable to cyberbullying, harmful content, and online exploitation. Protecting them is a shared responsibility. This whitepaper is a significant step in guiding stakeholders across the region toward this vital goal,” Wamola said.

The newly launched GSMA whitepaper, Enhancing Child Online Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa, outlines key recommendations, including the need to:

  • Center children and youth in digital policy and program design,
  • Strengthen national frameworks aligned with the African Union’s online safety strategy,
  • Expand digital literacy for children, parents, and educators, and
  • Build robust public-private partnerships to scale safety tools and educational resources.

The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child had earlier dedicated the 2023 Day of the African Child to the theme of online safety, highlighting the pressing need for continent-wide collaboration to protect minors in digital spaces.

Echoing this sentiment, UNICEF’s Regional Child Protection Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa, Nankali Maksud, stressed that safeguarding children online is both a rights issue and an investment in Africa’s future. “Children under 18 make up half of Africa’s population. This whitepaper provides a platform for African voices and leadership to shape online safety solutions that work for the continent,” she said.

The whitepaper also integrates regional data, including insights from IPSOS research commissioned by MTN Group, and features a call to action from 19-year-old youth advocate Jemima Kasongo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who opened the roundtable at MWC25.

GSMA’s ongoing efforts, alongside its African members, aim to amplify youth voices and foster multi-sector cooperation. The organization also encourages all stakeholders to engage with the recommendations and contribute to ongoing conversations that will shape a safer and more empowering digital future for Africa’s children.

While the report is Africa-focused, it is part of GSMA’s wider global mission to ensure children’s voices are integrated into digital policy and design—a move that underscores the universality of child protection in the digital age.