Kenya: The Kenya Film Classification Board Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Wambua, has affirmed the Board’s commitment to protecting children from exposure to harmful audio-visual content.
Speaking on Friday, 19th May 2023, during the Meta round-table on Youth Safety and Well-Being held at the Aspire Center Nairobi, Wambua said that the Board, in collaboration with other partners, is rolling out a Parents Digital Literacy (PaDiL) Programme whose key objective is to empower parents with digital skills and knowledge to undertake their parenting responsibilities effectively, in an increasingly digital environment.
The PaDiL also seeks to promote responsible digital parenting and viewing practices among consumers of online content, as well as to enhance parents’ awareness of emerging technologies.
Wambua observed that children are among the heavy users of the internet and ICT devices, noting that there is a need for parents to be vigilant about the content that children are exposed to and guide them appropriately.
The Ag. CEO lauded Meta for organizing the forum, stating that the Board is committed to working with like-minded public and private sector partners, especially in rolling out the PaDIL.
“I wish to encourage Meta and other ICT platforms to align their community guidelines with the Board’s classification guidelines so as to ensure that content conforms to Kenya’s culture and national aspirations,” Wambua said, adding that the internet provides both opportunities and challenges.
He called upon creatives to leverage the internet to monetize their work for job opportunities and wealth creation. Mercy Ndegwa, the Meta Director of East and Horn of Africa Public Policy, stated that Meta is working on various innovations and capacity-building for users so as to ensure safety on their various platforms.
The round table focused on issues related to child safety and well-being, age-appropriate experiences for teens, age verification and parental supervision, as well as the policies and programmes Meta has developed to combat any challenges associated with the same.
