One Click Can Change a Life: New Series Empowers Youth to Report Online Harm

MTN, Africa’s leading mobile network operator, has partnered with MTV Base, Africa’s top youth and pop culture platform, to unveil Room of Safety—a pioneering youth-led content series aimed at promoting online child safety and encouraging healthy digital habits.

Part of MTN’s broader Help Children Be Children campaign, the initiative launches with a powerful 10-part short-form series debuted on 20 July 2025 at 15:00 CAT on MTV Base (DStv channel 322) and across digital platforms @MTVBaseSouth and @MTVBaseAfrica. With relatable storytelling and authentic youth voices, the series brings attention to the urgent issue of online harm and equips viewers with actionable knowledge.

Reaching Millions with a Message of Safety

Leveraging the combined reach of MTV, MTV Base, and their vast digital audience, Room of Safety is designed to spark critical conversations and promote safer digital behavior among young Africans. The show features Craig Nobela of Paramount’s Culture Squad and a stellar cast of influencers including Yanda Woods, LordKez, Foyin Ongunrombi, Azana, MajorSteez, Melissa Nayimuli, Mawelele, and Naledi.

“As technology evolves, we’re seeing serious risks—AI misuse, stalking, exploitation—mirror real-world harm. With Room of Safety, we’re giving young people the tools and support they need to protect each other,”.

said Marina Madale, MTN Group Executive: Sustainability and Shared Value

MTV Base: Continuing the Legacy of Change

“For two decades, MTV Base has used its platform to drive change—from HIV awareness to mental health. Room of Safety continues that legacy, empowering young people to own their digital lives with confidence,”.

added Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and GM of Editorial at Paramount Africa

Groundbreaking Research Reveals Digital Dangers

Insights from Ipsos research across Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia reveal sobering stats:

• 1 in 10 children in Nigeria and South Sudan report online harassment.
• 20% of children in South Sudan face cyberbullying.
• In Nigeria, 79% of teens spend over an hour online daily.
• 30–40% of adolescents admitted to adding strangers to their messaging apps.
• In Juba, kids online for over an hour daily are 17 times more likely to engage in risky behavior.

These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally relevant digital literacy and robust protective systems.

MTN’s Holistic Safety Approach

Beyond awareness, MTN is strengthening child helplines, reporting portals, and promoting access to the Africa Online Safety Portal—especially in countries lacking national child protection services. The portal enables real-time reporting of harmful URLs, including CSAM (child sexual abuse material), often removed within the hour.

With studies showing that only 20–22% of children know of existing reporting platforms—despite over 80% wanting them—MTN and MTV Base are working to close the awareness gap and ensure safety support is within every child’s reach.

A Movement, Not Just a Message

Room of Safety is more than a content series—it’s a movement. It calls on youth, caregivers, educators, and policymakers to:

• Scale digital education in schools.
• Close the data and awareness gap.
• Fast-track protective regulation.
• Collaborate across public and private sectors.

Together, we can build a safer digital Africa. One where every child has the tools to speak up, report abuse, and feel protected online.

To learn more about MTN’s child online protection efforts, visit:
👉 www.mtn.com/child-online-protection

#HelpChildrenBeChildren #RoomOfSafety #MTN #MTVBase #DigitalSafety