South African parents are being warned against giving primary school children unrestricted access to WhatsApp after a reported incident involving nine-year-olds being exposed to pornography during a group call.
According to IOL, digital law expert Emma Sadleir raised concerns after receiving an email describing how a nine-year-old girl allegedly shared pornographic material with friends using WhatsApp’s screen-sharing feature.
The girl’s parents reportedly punished her and confiscated her devices after being informed of the incident. Another nine-year-old who admitted seeing the material was also punished by her parents for failing to report it.
The incident has raised concerns about children’s safety online and whether punishment is an appropriate response when young children encounter harmful content.
Expert Warns Parents About WhatsApp Dangers
Sadleir, founder of The Digital Law Company, has urged parents to reconsider allowing primary school children to use WhatsApp.
“Your primary school child should not have a device that has WhatsApp on it. It’s just point-blank. WhatsApp is not appropriate,” Sadleir said.
She warned that WhatsApp’s group chats, channels and other features can expose children to inappropriate material, including content shared by strangers.
Sadleir also suggested that parents concerned about contacting their children during emergencies should consider basic mobile phones without internet access.
South Africa’s Film and Publication Board (FPB) has similarly highlighted the dangers of children being exposed to pornography and other harmful online material.
Through school visits, community workshops and awareness campaigns, the FPB educates families about online safety and the importance of reporting harmful content.
The organisation also runs programmes aimed at helping parents, caregivers and teachers protect children from online sexual exploitation.
Why Punishing Children Could Make Matters Worse
Sadleir has strongly criticised the decision to punish children who encounter pornography, arguing that adults must take responsibility for the devices and platforms they allow children to access.
“If your child comes to you to say that they have been exposed to pornography, you treat them like the victim that they are,” Sadleir said.
She believes children should receive support rather than punishment, particularly when they may not understand the material they have encountered.
The FPB encourages parents and communities to recognise online dangers and report incidents involving harmful sexual content.
Parents are urged to establish clear boundaries around smartphone use and create an environment where children feel comfortable reporting inappropriate material.
Sadleir’s warning raises a serious question for South African families: are children being given access to WhatsApp before they are old enough to understand its dangers?
Protecting children online requires more than monitoring their devices. It also means ensuring they can turn to their parents for help without fear of punishment.
