The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged parents and caregivers to closely monitor their children’s online activities and maintain open communication with them to protect young internet users from Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA).
In a cybersecurity advisory issued by its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), the agency warned that while expanding internet access is creating new opportunities for learning and communication, it is also exposing children to online predators who exploit social media, gaming platforms, messaging applications and other digital services.
NITDA described OCSEA as the use of internet platforms to exploit, abuse or manipulate children through activities including grooming, sextortion, the sharing of child sexual abuse material and coercing minors into producing or sharing sexual content.
The agency said parents play a critical role in safeguarding children online and should encourage open conversations that allow young people to report suspicious online encounters without fear.
NITDA also advised parents to actively monitor their children’s online activities, review privacy settings on devices and applications, ensure children use age-appropriate digital platforms and remain alert to unusual or secretive behaviour that could indicate online abuse. For children, the agency recommended accepting friend or follow requests only from people they know in real life, avoiding the sharing of personal information, photographs or videos online, using available privacy controls and reporting uncomfortable online interactions to a trusted adult.
NITDA on imperatives of children online protection
NITDA also advised parents to actively monitor their children’s online activities, review privacy settings on devices and applications, ensure children use age-appropriate digital platforms and remain alert to unusual or secretive behaviour that could indicate online abuse.
For children, the agency recommended accepting friend or follow requests only from people they know in real life, avoiding the sharing of personal information, photographs or videos online, using available privacy controls and reporting uncomfortable online interactions to a trusted adult.
According to NITDA, the consequences of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse extend beyond individual victims, affecting families, schools and wider society.
The agency warned that victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, fear, loss of trust and disruptions to their education and personal relationships, while families face emotional distress and growing concerns over children’s digital safety. It added that increasing incidents of online child abuse also place greater pressure on child protection agencies and law enforcement authorities.
The advisory, the tech agency said, forms part of NITDA’s broader cybersecurity awareness and digital literacy programme aimed at promoting safer internet use across Nigeria.
The agency said its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team regularly issues advisories on emerging cyber threats, online scams, data protection and internet safety to help individuals and organisations reduce digital risks.
Child online protection has also become a key pillar of NITDA’s digital literacy strategy as internet adoption continues to expand nationwide. The agency said it has consistently argued that digital literacy should include cyber hygiene, online safety awareness and responsible digital behaviour alongside technical skills.
The latest advisory aligns with NITDA’s policy work on tackling online harms. In its White Paper on the Framework for an Online Harms Protection Bill, the agency identified Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the distribution of child sexual abuse material as priority areas requiring stronger regulatory oversight, while proposing clearer responsibilities for online service providers, regulators and other stakeholders.
The advisory also follows NITDA’s partnership with Meta at the Youth Safety Summit held in Abuja in June, where the agency reinforced the need to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital environment safely.
NITDA said protecting children online requires collective action by parents, caregivers, educators, technology companies, government institutions and the wider public, urging families to remain vigilant as digital literacy and responsible internet use become increasingly essential to children’s safety online.
Author
Technology Times Reporter
oladapo.rilwan@technologytimes.ng
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