DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 1 -- CHILDRENS safety must not be sacrificed at the altar of technological convenience. As social media becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, parents and the government must act decisively to protect young users from online dangers, manipulation and harmful content.

We may debate on this as an appropriate age to allow children to engage in the social media, but with consequences, where growing digital connectivity is expanding, our children will not be safe.

Parents must recognise that providing smartphones is not the same as preparing children to use them responsibly. Young children lack the maturity to assess every message, identify manipulation or distinguish credible information from fabricated content....