JOHANNESBURG – A record-breaking US settlement involving Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has renewed calls for stronger measures to protect children from the risks associated with social media and other digital platforms.

Meta has agreed to an $18-billion (more than R300 billion) settlement in the United States following legal action alleging that its platforms contributed to harm among children and teenagers and that the company failed to do enough to protect young users.

The settlement, which involves almost all US states, includes measures such as default daily usage limits, nighttime lockouts and the disabling of notifications during school hours.

Meta has denied wrongdoing.

The agreement has nevertheless intensified a global debate over how technology companies, governments, schools and parents should protect children in an increasingly digital world.

Countries are adopting a range of approaches. Australia has introduced a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, while Brazil has implemented parental consent requirements. The United Kingdom is also considering further restrictions.

South African education solution

Against this international backdrop, Pretoria-based Professor Anke de Beer believes that protecting children online must begin before they are given unrestricted access to smart devices.

De Beer is the founder of the Smart Device Licence, a South African educational programme aimed at teaching children and teenagers how to use smart devices safely and responsibly.

“When you give your child a smart device, you don’t just give them access to the world. You give the world access to your child,” says De Beer.

“The Smart Device Licence is about turning that access into a valuable skill for navigating the digital world responsibly.”

Children are increasingly exposed to social media, online gaming, messaging applications and other digital environments from a young age. In many cases, they encounter these platforms before they fully understand the potential risks.

These include cyberbullying, inappropriate content, privacy breaches, online exploitation, excessive device use and digital addiction.

De Beer argues that regulation and corporate accountability are important, but that children also need practical knowledge to help them make responsible decisions online.

From personal experience to national programme

The Smart Device Licence grew out of a deeply personal family experience involving gaming addiction and its consequences.

According to De Beer, the experience highlighted the dangers associated with unrestricted digital access and the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge to make safer choices.

What began as a family’s struggle eventually developed into a broader initiative aimed at improving digital awareness among South African children.

The programme was developed with input from professionals in education, psychology and child protection.

What does the Smart Device Licence cover?

The interactive e-learning programme focuses on practical digital skills, including:

• Digital citizenship;
• Privacy protection;
• Recognising cyberbullying;
• Responsible social media use;
• Healthy device habits;
• Online safety; and
• Understanding digital risks.

The programme has two levels.

Junior Licence: Designed for primary school learners, it focuses on healthy device habits, responsible digital behaviour and avoiding harmful online content.

Senior Licence: Designed for high school learners, it addresses privacy, adult content, sharing personal images or messages, cyberbullying, responsible online communication and the psychology of digital addiction.

Learners complete modules, quizzes and practical exercises before receiving an official Smart Device Licence certificate.

Schools, including Rabboni Christian School in Brits, are already using the platform.

The programme is voluntary and the licence is an educational milestone rather than a legal requirement.

Preparing children before they go online

The Smart Device Licence is available to schools, parents and learners across South Africa.

De Beer says education should not be delayed until governments introduce legislation or courts intervene following harm to children.

“The conversation about children’s digital safety is becoming impossible to ignore,” she says.

“But we should not wait for a court case, legislation or a crisis, whether in the US or here at home, before we prepare our children.

“The best time to teach a child how to use a smart device responsibly is before they receive one.”

The licence costs R115, including VAT, and provides access to the programme’s modules, exercises and quizzes. Its content is intended to be updated regularly to reflect emerging technologies, digital trends and developments in the digital safety landscape.

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