Data recently revealed by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) paints a worrying picture of the dangers faced by Moroccan children on social networks. Among the most alarming consequences: sleep disorders, family and friendly conflicts, as well as victims of cyberbullying and humiliating messages online. Faced with this observation, the Council is proposing strong measures, such as the definition of a digital age of majority and the integration of digital education into school programs, while strengthening parental supervision.
In a recently published opinion, entitled “ For an inclusive digital environment guaranteeing the protection of children“, the Council is based on a study carried out among 1,293 Moroccan children and young people, aged 8 to 28 years. The results of this study are striking: 80% of children and young people in Morocco use the Internet, and 70% of them are present on social networks.
However, these figures hide a worrying reality: 43% of participants suffer from sleep disorders, neglecting a basic need such as nutrition. In addition, 35.6% experienced conflicts with family or friends, while 41.5% observed a decline in their academic performance. The Council emphasizes that “what is even more worrying is that a third of these young people have declared having been victims of cyberharassment”.
Indeed, the data reveals that young adults aged 18 to 25 are the most exposed to this phenomenon, representing 59% of reports on the Espace Maroc Confiance Numérique platform, followed by adults aged 26 and over (28.4% ). Although adolescents aged 13 to 17 and children aged 5 to 12 are fewer in number, they nevertheless remain vulnerable to these threats.
The study also highlights the risks associated with the criminal exploitation of personal data, including fraud, hacking and identity theft. In fact, 40% of young people share their personal data with strangers, and 40% do not know how to adjust privacy settings. Moreover, ” 30% do not know how to distinguish what can be shared from what should not be shared« .
Faced with these dangers, the Council criticizes digital parental monitoring, which is too underdeveloped despite its low annual cost (100 dirhams per year or 10 dirhams per month). According to stakeholders interviewed, this situation is due to “ a lack of awareness among parents of the risks associated with children’s use of the Internet, and their ignorance of the advantages of these digital solutions« .
To respond to these challenges, the Council made several crucial recommendations. Firstly, he calls for “ the definition of the age of digital majority“, that is to say the establishment of an age limit from which a child can access social networks, accompanied by restrictive measures for the platforms, such as the obligation to refuse the registration of minors without parental consent.
The Council also emphasizes the need to “ adapt the national legal framework to international standards concerning children’s rights“, in particular with regard to the definition of crimes committed on the Internet, the clarification of the responsibilities of technology companies and telecommunications operators, and the establishment of specific rules on the use of social networks by children.
In addition, it recommends the use of artificial intelligence tools to proactively detect inappropriate content, analyze risky behavior, personalize parental monitoring and ensure a rapid and effective response to threats on social networks.
On an educational level, the Council proposes integrating digital education into school programs from an early age, with emphasis on the development of critical thinking to better defend oneself against the dangers of social networks and verify the information. He also suggests making information producers aware of their role in the fight against false information, through awareness campaigns aimed at parents and users.
Finally, the Council recommends “ strengthen cooperation between government authorities and digital platforms“, in order to guarantee better security in the digital space, in particular by defining clear protocols for reporting and dealing with inappropriate content, such as cyberharassment or violent content.
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