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The leading mobile network provider in Africa, MTN, has teamed up with MTV Base, the continent’s top youth and pop culture brand, to introduce the Room of Safety, a creative, youth-led initiative aimed at promoting healthy digital habits and increasing awareness of online child safety.
The partnership, which is a component of MTN’s Help Children Be Children program, uses the reach and clout of MTV, MTV Base, and MTV’s digital channels to effect significant change. The initiative’s centrepiece is the debut of Room of Safety, a compelling 10-part short-form series that will air on MTV Base, DStv channel 322, and the social media accounts @MTVBaseSouth and @MTVBaseAfrica starting at 15:00 on July 20, 2025.
With realistic narratives and content created by young people, the series hopes to inspire discussion, increase awareness, and provide young people the skills and information they need to avoid online dangers. Through the use of many platforms, the campaign has the potential to reach millions of young Africans, spark community discussions, and encourage safer online conduct throughout the continent. Azana, MajorSteez, Melissa Nayimuli, Mawelele, Naledi, Yanda Woods, LordKez, Foyin Ongunrombi, and Craig Nobela, a member of Paramount’s Culture Squad, are among the talented group of young African influencers that appear on the show.
“As technology advances, we’re witnessing grave dangers, such as online stalking, exploitation, and misuse of AI, which reflect and occasionally exacerbate the harm we previously thought was exclusive to the physical world. At MTN, we think protection and access must coexist. We are empowering young people to speak up and defend one another through our collaboration with MTV Base on Room of Safety, paving the way for a safer and more thoughtful digital future,” stated Marina Madale, MTN Group Executive: Sustainability and Shared Value.
MTV Base has led the way in influencing youth culture and leveraging our platform to raise awareness of important problems over the past 20 years. In areas ranging from gender equality and mental health to HIV awareness, we have continuously supported content that promotes change. By enabling young people to safely and confidently navigate the digital world, we’re carrying on that tradition with Room of Safety.
The future generation is being protected and their opinions are being heard thanks to our cooperation with MTN,” stated Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Editorial at Paramount Africa.
“Online safety is a critical pillar for driving digital inclusion in Ghana, and it is imperative that we take bold, proactive steps to foster a culture where young people feel empowered to openly discuss their online experiences with parents, educators, and peers,” said Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, in response to the initiative. This platform is a strategic enabler that aims to increase digital resilience, foster meaningful dialogue, and foster trust among the young people in our communities. It is more than just a conversation starter.
A Growing Concern Across Africa Recent research conducted by Ipsos in partnership with MTN across Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia reveals alarming trends in online behaviour among children aged 8–17: 1 in 10 children in Nigeria and South Sudan reported being harassed online. 20% of children in South Sudan reported being bullied online — the highest among the three countries. In Nigeria, 79% of adolescents aged 13–17 spend more than an hour online daily, increasing their exposure to risky online behaviour. 30–40% of teens across the three countries admitted to adding strangers to their messaging apps.
In Juba, children who spend more than an hour online daily are 17 times more likely to engage in risky online behaviour. These findings underscore the urgent need for digital education and protective mechanisms tailored to African youth.
Encouraging Both Parents and Youth By taking a comprehensive approach that goes beyond knowledge to action, MTN is dedicated to making the internet a safer place for kids. The Africa Online Safety Portal is being made available throughout the continent, especially in nations without national platforms, and MTN is assisting in the development of in-country reporting portals and child helplines as part of its Help Children Be Children campaign. CSAM-containing URLs can be reported through the reporting site, and they are frequently removed within an hour after being examined by knowledgeable experts. This program is particularly important in areas where just 20–22% of children know about the child safety portals that are currently in place, but more than 80% desire service providers to give direct reporting methods for abuse.
Together with MTV Base, MTN wants to close these gaps so that all African children, no matter where they live, may report hazardous content, have access to critical safety information, and find support services that safeguard their online safety. An Appeal for Action In Africa, protecting children online necessitates quick, teamwork. Scaling digital literacy in schools, accelerating fit-for-purpose regulation, bridging the data gap, and enhancing cross-sector cooperation are all imperative. Acting now is crucial due to new concerns like online abuse and misuse of AI. MTN and MTV Base are using their reach through Room of Safety to empower people to take action by raising awareness.
MTN and MTV Base are leveraging their connections to put awareness into action through Room of Safety, giving young people and those who care about them the resources they need to stand together, speak up, and stay safe.
We urge leaders, educators, parents, and youth to contribute to creating a safer digital Africa for the coming generation. Go to www.mtn.com/child-online-protection/#HelpChildrenBeChildren #RoomOfSafety to learn more about kid internet safety.
