Stakeholders Meet over Parents Digital Literacy Program
The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), today, 5th October, 2022, held a joint breakfast meeting with Netflix and other stakeholders to discuss the Parental Digital Literacy Program (PaDiL) that will soon be rolled out.
The program, which targets parents, seeks to promote responsible digital parenting and viewing practices among consumers of Netflix content.
It also seeks to empower parents with skills on how to monitor and guide children on content access through various digital platforms as well as enhance parents' awareness on emerging technologies.
Speaking at the breakfast meeting, KFCB Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Christopher Wambua, said the PaDiL program coined by KFCB in partnership with Netflix, will be launched once other stakeholders are brought on board and a proper implementation framework is put in place.
"The environment in which our children grow has evolved very fast, most children have access to both the internet, smartphones and other digital gadgets, hence the need for digital parenting," Mr. Wambua said.
He added that parents have an important role in monitoring and guiding children on content consumption and responsible use of digital gadgets.
"The PaDiL program focuses mainly on parents because they have an important role of parental guidance on matters of religion, morality and culture, " Mr. Wambua reiterated.
The KFCB Ag. CEO urged stakeholders to support the program and work with the Board in ensuring the safety of children online.
While noting that protecting children from inappropriate content is a collective responsibility, Mr. Wambua said that KFCB will remain steadfast in championing child online safety.
Netflix Director of Public Policy, Sub Saharan Africa, Ms. Shola Sanni, affirmed Netflix's support for the PaDiL program.
"Netflix will work with KFCB and other agencies to sensitize parents and caregivers on existing Netflix parental controls and safeguards.
Stakeholders represented at the meeting were; the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Google, ICT Authority of Kenya (ICTA), Kenya Film Commission (KFC), Kenya Film School (KFS), Directorate of Children Services, Eveminet Communications Solutions Limited, Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and Watoto Watch Net.
Others were; Childline Kenya, Child Fund and the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT).
The objective is to bring all the above stakeholders on board for the PaDiL program with a collective aim of protecting children from exposure to harmful/adult content.
