The Internet Is Raising Our Children And We Are Letting It

A defining story of 2026 will be the introduction of next-generation Wi-Fi technologies. Systems that go beyond speed, promising seamless connectivity, smarter homes, and constant access to the digital world.

But as we celebrate faster connections, we must ask a far more important question:
Are we making our children safer or more exposed?

As we observe Safer Internet Day on 10 February, I write not only as the CEO of Girls and Boys Town South Africa, but as a mother, responsible for my own children and for the thousands of young lives entrusted to our care. I know intimately what it means to worry about a child’s safety.

The internet can be one of the most unregulated and unpredictable spaces especially for children. What more for children? Danger no longer knocks

Today, danger does not arrive loudly. It does not knock at the door.
It comes quietly. Through screens we willingly place in our children’s hands, often unsupervised, often unquestioned, and increasingly normalised.

Next-generation Wi-Fi means children are online earlier, for longer periods and in more private spaces than ever before. Content loads instantly. Conversations happen in seconds. Exposure is no longer gradual – it is immediate.

“The internet is also a powerful tool for learning, connection, and opportunity. It gives children access to knowledge, support, and communities that can enrich their lives. The goal is not to fear technology it is to ensure that as access grows, guidance and involvement grow with it.” Says Karen Farred, CEO of Girls and Boys Town South Africa (GBTSA).

A familiar but troubling scene in many homes today, a picture is deeply troubling.

Parents and children sit together, yet worlds apart.
Toddlers watch videos.
Teenagers scroll endlessly.
Adults respond to messages.

Everyone is connected and no one is truly present.

This digital silence is not neutral. It creates a vacuum. And nature – and danger–always fill a vacuum.

When adults are distracted, children can become more vulnerable online.

Children are curious by nature. The internet knows this.
So do predators, traffickers, cyberbullies, scammers, and those who exploit innocence for profit, power, or pleasure.

While parents are distracted, often hypnotised by the very same devices, children are being groomed, manipulated, exposed to explicit content, pressured into secrecy, or taught values that directly contradict those of their homes.

At Girls and Boys Town South Africa, we work with children who have already been harmed – emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes irreversibly. Many of these harms began online: unnoticed, unchecked, and unaddressed until it was too late.

This is not about blaming parents.
This is about waking up.

Screens are separating our families.

The internet does not only expose children to danger,  it quietly separates families.

Conversations are replaced by scrolling.
Eye contact is replaced by notifications.
Emotional connection is replaced by constant digital noise.

When children stop talking to their parents, they start talking to strangers.
When families stop connecting, children start seeking belonging elsewhere.
And the internet is always ready to receive them without the built-in boundaries and care that healthy families provide. We cannot outsource parenting to technology.

As adults, we must accept an uncomfortable truth:

• We cannot protect children from dangers we refuse to acknowledge.
• We cannot guide them if we are not paying attention.
• And we cannot correct what we are not willing to confront in ourselves.

  If we expect children to use the internet responsibly, we must first model responsible behaviour. This is an urgent call to parents in a hyper-connected world.

  As we move into an era of faster and smarter connectivity, parents must respond with intention not fear.

  Here is how we can do better:

• Slow down the home, even if the internet speeds up. Create moments where phones are put away and conversation is restored.
• Be curious, not confrontational. Ask children what they watch, who they talk to, and how they feel online.
• Set firm boundaries rooted in love Limits are not control, they are care.
• Model the behaviour we expect. Children cannot learn digital discipline from distracted adults.
• Stay involved, not invasive. Presence protects more than surveillance ever will.

Our children are always watching us.

Safer Internet Day is not just about online safety.
It is about responsibility, awareness, and courage.

In 2026, as technology continues to evolve, our role as parents, caregivers, and communities must evolve faster.

Our children do not need unlimited access.
They need guidance.
They need connection.
They need us.

At Girls and Boys Town South Africa, we remain committed to protecting, nurturing, and advocating for children  both online and offline.

Because no matter how fast the internet becomes, childhood must never be rushed, exploited, or left unprotected.