THE Government is reviewing how children access social media and other online platforms as Zimbabwe moves to implement its National Child Online Protection Pol...
THE Government is reviewing how children access social media and other online platforms as Zimbabwe moves to implement its National Child Online Protection Policy, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has told Parliament.
The review is part of wider efforts to protect children from growing online risks, including cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation, harmful content, sextortion and privacy violations.
Minister Mavetera said Zimbabwe was studying approaches adopted by other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, as it considers measures that could strengthen online safety for children.
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She, however, stressed that the Government had not announced a ban on children’s access to social media, with consultations and policy discussions still underway.
The clarification comes amid growing international efforts to regulate children’s use of digital platforms. Australia has already introduced age restrictions on certain social media services for users under 16, while other countries are examining different approaches to children’s online safety.
Zimbabwe’s National Child Online Protection Policy 2026–2030 was approved by Cabinet in June and subsequently launched in Bulawayo in July. It provides a national framework for protecting children in the digital environment while allowing them to benefit from educational and other opportunities provided by information and communication technologies.
The policy identifies a number of risks affecting children online and calls for coordinated action involving Government, the private sector, schools, communities and families.
The Government is also developing legislation to give legal force to the policy. Officials have said work on an accompanying Act is at a preliminary stage, with consultations expected to inform the measures eventually adopted.
Among the issues under consideration are safeguards for free public Wi-Fi hotspots, parental controls and mechanisms that could help parents or guardians monitor children’s online activity.
The measures are particularly relevant as Zimbabwe expands access to the internet. Government figures cited by officials indicate that internet penetration had reached 87.39 percent, while broadband penetration stood at 85.83 percent and mobile penetration had surpassed 108 percent by 2026.
Government has also been rolling out free public Wi-Fi hotspots as part of efforts to expand digital access, particularly in underserved communities. The programme is intended to provide access to online services, educational resources and other digital platforms without users having to bear the full cost of data.
However, the expansion of connectivity has also raised concerns about children’s exposure to inappropriate or harmful online material.
A child online safety survey previously cited by Zimbabwean authorities found that 44 percent of children aged between eight and 18 had been exposed to adult content, either intentionally or unintentionally.
The Government’s policy therefore seeks to balance increased digital access with stronger safeguards for children.
Parents and guardians are expected to remain an important part of the approach, with the policy encouraging families to play a greater role in monitoring and guiding children’s online activities.
The Government has also indicated that technical controls, education, public awareness, prevention and response mechanisms will form part of the wider child online protection framework.
International experience is informing Zimbabwe’s review. Australia’s restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16 came into effect in December 2025, while the country continues to introduce additional online safety measures.
The United Kingdom has also been pursuing stronger protections for children online, including measures targeting children’s exposure to sexually explicit material and the sharing of harmful images.
For Zimbabwe, however, the Government has yet to announce a specific age threshold or blanket restriction on children’s access to social media.
The immediate focus remains consultation and the development of measures that can be incorporated into the country’s child online protection framework.
As discussions continue, the Government faces the challenge of protecting children from online harm without unnecessarily restricting their access to educational, social and other beneficial digital services.
The final measures are expected to become clearer as consultations progress and legislation to support the National Child Online Protection Policy is developed.
