JOHANNESBURG - Parents are being warned they may be unknowingly putting their children at risk online.
The National Centre for Child Protection says a lack of supervision and open communication is leaving many children vulnerable to exploitation.
The organisation is calling for greater vigilance and awareness around children’s digital activity, especially as access to devices continues to grow.
READ: National Centre for Child Protection calls for vigilance
"There is a lack of communication and a lack of knowledge with parents," said the organisation's Danie van Loggerenberg.
"Parents, once you allow your child to have a device with them without any control or supervision, your child falls within a world that you know nothing about."
As South Africa marks Child Protection Month, the warning comes amid rising cases of child abuse, exploitation and neglect.
Recent figures show thousands of children have been affected, while high-profile cases have intensified calls for stronger protection measures.
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Van Loggerenberg says children can be manipulated or deceived by strangers online and, in some cases, feel too afraid to speak to their parents after making a mistake.
"Your child would rather send a nude than have their phone taken from them, meaning once they have been fooled or conned or speak to a stranger based on a photo or profile that’s been created and they’ve made the mistake of sending that photo and they refuse to speak to their parents, they are actually stuck in that situation," he said.
"Once we can have a conversation where parents understand that parents, you are failing your kids firstly.”