Young people in Namibia are spending more time on social media platforms, sparking urgent concerns about children's online safety.

These issues were tackled on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's "Wheels of Justice" programme. Children across the country encounter risks like exposure to inappropriate content, predatory behaviour, and social media addiction.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus stressed shared responsibility in protecting children online. "How old should a child be to be on social media? Children under the ages of 18, 16, and 14, and even children four years old, have access to gadgets, iPads, and phones," she said. "They can't afford these items. Somebody buys them for them. Somebody buys the data for them to use these items, including the Wi-Fi. So immediately, parental control and parental supervision come in here. Governments cannot regulate inside people's homes, but they can hold parents and the big tech companies accountable."

The minister pointed to technology design flaws. She called for platforms that avoid addiction, prevent users from feeling inferior, and curb hallucinations of alternative realities. "All of these are regulatory effects, but everybody has a responsibility: the parent, the technological company, and of course the government."

Children's Advocate Ingrid Husselmann framed the problem as a rights and mental health issue. "Social media addiction among children is definitely not simply a parenting challenge. It is always, first and foremost, a children's rights issue. And it's also an issue regarding mental health and digital safety."

She noted children's vulnerability due to incomplete cognitive, emotional, and psychological development. "The law has always recognised that children are vulnerable because of their developmental age. So that is the reason why they deserve special protection. And this principle should not just apply in the homes or on the school grounds. It should obviously also extend to the online environment because the reality is that children are essentially growing up online."