Digital literacy project Web Rangers launches WhatsApp channel for parents

Media Monitoring Africa

Web Rangers is Media Monitoring Africa‘s (MMA) digital literacy project designed to allow young people to gain critical knowledge about online safety. Young people then use these skills to create innovative campaigns that champion their rights in the digital world.

The programme was launched in South Africa in 2016 with the aim of empowering children and teenagers to take ownership of their digital footprint. It’s grounded in the belief that this allows them to become more active citizens who can contribute to social development. Further, they gain skills to self-regulate and protect themselves from risk and potential harm from cyber-bullying and inappropriate sexual conduct online.

Web Rangers today launched its new WhatsApp channel, designed to provide parents with essential resources and updates on digital literacy. Its Digital Literacy Training Guide for Parents was carefully crafted to simplify the complexities of online safety.

Web Rangers also has a South Africa-based comic, Nkosana Our Brave Hero!, which aims to strengthen children with the agency to tackle mis- and disinformation.

Supported by MMA and UNICEF South Africa, the comic is the work of nine ‘Article 12’ members – Web Ranger Ambassadors who have a special interest in policy work – who developed it together.

See an introductory video to Web Rangers’ work here.