Y20 delegates call for more action against online abuse

Some young delegates at this year’s Y20 Summit have raised serious concerns about the growing impact of cyberbullying, calling for more decisive action from governments and tech platforms.

The week-long summit, held at the Birchwood Conference Hotel in Boksburg, has brought together youth representatives from G20 member states to discuss pressing global issues, including climate change, inclusive economic growth, employment, and multilateralism.

On day three of the youth-led event, discussions focused on the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its societal impacts.

Child online-violence survivor, Sheila Makhado, delivered a powerful address, criticising the government’s inaction in addressing online child exploitation.

She urged authorities to prioritise digital safety and introduce stronger protections for children online.

Childline SA’s online counselling project manager, Bhavna Lutchman, also weighed in, urging society to play an active role in promoting digital literacy among children.

“The internet doesn’t come with an instruction manual. We need to provide them with the literacy on how to keep themselves safe online and actively live the ‘Ubuntu’ term, by understanding that the child doesn’t exist alone. We need communities, parents, and care-givers to provide digital literacy,” said Lutchman.

Other delegates called for stronger action on youth empowerment.

University of Zululand’s, Dr. Wiseman Mbatha, suggested decentralizing resources to ensure a broader reach among youth.

G2G Podcast host, Galston Anthony, who leads unfiltered conversations with politicians and culture-shapers worldwide, emphasizes the importance of strengthening youth’s self-esteem.

“If we have low self-esteem we are more likely to fail. So increasing our self-esteem means understanding what it means to be African. Have the intentional heart, mind  and soul and move from there,” said Anthony.

Other speakers highlighted the importance of access to infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities. However, they stressed that communities also bear the responsibility of preserving and protecting public resources.

Thandile Zonke, founding manager of Future Matrix, said the fact that some areas still lack electricity more than 30 years into democracy underscores the urgent need to address service delivery backlogs.

CRTVE Development CIO, Nolo Mokoena, concurred, but stressed that accountability and care for infrastructure are just as critical.

“Young people need to recognise that the hardest and most expensive thing to build is infrastructure. That’s why it makes no sense when we protest and burn down critical infrastructure that is already limited in our communities because to rebuild them takes time,” said Mokoena.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao