Peer-reviewed article
Online Risk Awareness and Safety Needs of Children: A Zimbabwean Perspective
Maxwell Sandada, Gift Kalisto Machengete, Cryford Mhaka, Felicity Kaseke ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 2,617 children aged 8 to 18 across Zimbabwe to understand their awareness of online risks and safety needs. Older children and frequent internet users showed greater awareness of online dangers. Meeting online friends in person emerged as a significant factor increasing children's exposure to harm. The research provides insights for developing targeted safety education and regulatory frameworks appropriate to Zimbabwe's context.
Key points
- Older children and frequent Internet users are more aware of online risks
- Meeting online friends in person significantly increases children's exposure to harm
- Limited prior research has addressed online safety challenges specific to Zimbabwe's context
- Findings intended to inform policymakers, educators, and parents on effective interventions
- Study included 2,617 children across all ten provinces of Zimbabwe
Limitations
The study is descriptive and cross-sectional, identifying associations rather than causal relationships. It does not evaluate any intervention or test the effectiveness of safety measures.
Abstract
Given growing concerns about exposure to online risks, this study investigates children’s risk awareness and online safety needs in Zimbabwe. The research focuses on assessing factors influencing children’s awareness of online dangers and examining how demographic factors impact the perceived need for online safety education. While prior studies emphasise, the tangible risks posed by online interactions and the role of digital literacy, limited research has addressed these challenges within Zimbabwe’s context. This study builds on existing research to bridge the gap by providing localized insights. Data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to 2,617 children aged 8 to 18 across Zimbabwe’s ten provinces. Analytical methods included chi-square tests, logit regression and analysis of variance. Key findings indicate that older children and frequent Internet users are more aware of online risks. They also highlighted that meeting online friends in person significantly increases their exposure to harm. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and parents to craft effective interventions, including targeted safety education and enhanced regulatory frameworks for safer online environments. This study contributes to understanding online risk awareness and safety needs among Zimbabwean children.