19 Feb 2014 We follow that with a report from TimesLive SA, that the South African Film and Publication Board is campaigning for cyber safety to be included in the school curriculum. The regulatory body is also researching cyber bullying because it has found that no “thorough research” was available.
Stephanie Dawson-Cosser, head of Choice Child Care, welcomed the Film and Publication Board campaign emphasizing that talking about safe cellphone use was as important as discussing “taboo subjects such as sex and drugs”.
TimesLive SA quotes her as giving this stern warning; “Letting your child have a phone can give a false sense of security. Parents need to realise that when they give their child a cellphone they are exposing him to influences and people way beyond their control.
She recommended that cyber safety be part of the life orientation curriculum and advocated that preferably, children should have limited use of cellphones until 12 or 13, by which time they have learned their family, school and cultural values and are able to learn about and understand safety systems.