Digital Security: 19, 188 Incidents Reported, Children Confront Grave Online Dangers

A serene child, a smartphone in hand… yet perilous online threats lurk unnoticed. In recent years, the use of the internet and social media among children and adolescents has surged alarmingly. A 2022 report from the Pew Research Center revealed that a staggering 95% of young people aged 13 to 17 own a smartphone, with 97% logging onto the internet daily. Among these, a disconcerting 46% are “almost constantly” online, a significant rise from 24% in 2014-2015.

In Mauritius, as of January 2024, there were approximately 820,900 social media users, constituting 63.1% of the population.

A considerable proportion of these users are minors. Facebook reigns as the most popular platform, with 58% of its users being predominantly male, primarily students or young professionals aged between 14 and 24.

This overwhelming digital presence exposes children to a myriad of risks: cyberbullying, sextortion, revenge pornography, and explicit content.

An increasing number of Mauritian adolescents report having encountered inappropriate material or experienced online harassment.

The Child Online Safety Report, unveiled on Thursday by the Ministry of ICT, paints a harrowing picture.

Since March 2018, the MAUCORS+ system has recorded a staggering 19,188 online incidents, including:

• 5,465 cases of harassment,
• 3,840 instances of hacking,
• 3,052 scams,
• 2,361 instances of offensive content,
• 2,023 cases of identity theft,
• 1,323 incidents of cyberbullying,
• 652 cases of sextortion,
• 242 instances of online stalking,
• 167 phishing attempts,
• 63 cases of malware.

In March 2021, during the lockdown, the circulation of nude photographs of young girls on Telegram sent shockwaves through the community.

In a mere twelve days, 148 cases were reported to MAUCORS+. An excerpt from the action plan of NAFCO Mauritius (January 2025) reveals a disturbing statistic: over 60% of young women aged 18 to 20 have received explicit content without consent before reaching the age of 18.

Alarmingly, 97% believe that online pornography can lead to child pornography.

These incidents have dire consequences for the emotional, social, and mental development of young people, manifesting as sleep disturbances, isolation, anxiety, diminished concentration, poor self-image, and identity theft due to excessive information sharing.

Even within educational institutions, some schools are witnessing a troubling decline in basic skills among students.

The report further highlighted an increased dependency on social media, characterised by compulsive scrolling and a loss of time perception, which detrimentally affects their focus and academic performance.

A Call for Collective Action

In light of this stark reality, the relevant ministries (ICT, Education, Tertiary Education, Gender Equality) are urging for urgent intervention. The solutions must be multifaceted:

• The establishment of robust legislation,
• Protective technologies,
• Digital education for children, parents, and educators.

The Ministry of ICT is initiating a public consultation regarding a proposed law for the protection of children online.

Citizens, NGOs, schools, tech companies, and the general public are invited to submit their suggestions to mtci@govmu.org.

Furthermore, the public will have the opportunity to engage with MAIA+, the ministry’s chatbot, starting from 15 April 2025.

The deadline for submissions is set for 30 April 2025.

Source: l’Express