“The Internet is a great instrument for learning and communication, but not without risks”
On Safer Internet Day, UNICEF advocates for child and adolescent online protection
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Mirabelle Yotoli, 19, is a law student in Bangui and a UNICEF CAR Youth Advocate. Like most people her age, the smartphone has become an essential part of her daily life.
“My mother bought me my first mobile phone when I was 17. At the time, I was finishing secondary school in Paoua, where I was living with my uncle. My mother, who remained in Bangui, wanted to be able to talk to me every day. It was only last year that I upgraded to a better device, with Internet access.”
Mirabelle recalls that many of her classmates got their first phones even earlier—at 12 or 13. “I see many of them glued to their screens all day, as if nothing else mattered,” she says. “I tell them they need to be careful. Many use the Internet to find quick answers for their schoolwork, or even to cheat, but that doesn’t help them truly understand what they are studying. I remember one classmate who always handed in very polished homework copied from ChatGPT. One day, the teacher asked him to come to the blackboard and correct a text. He couldn’t do anything. He was deeply ashamed.”
10 February marks Safer Internet Day. This year’s theme is ‘Smart tech, safe choices’, highlighting the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
UNICEF is advocating for governments, regulators and tech companies to support laws, policies and practices that make life for children online safe, inclusive and meaningful.
Although several recent studies place the Central African Republic’s Internet penetration rate relatively low—at around 14 per cent—the country is not isolated from a broader global trend. Children and adolescents are increasingly growing up in a world shaped by social networks, screens, and constant digital notifications. While this digital environment offers new opportunities for young people, it also comes with significant risks. Although CAR is ranked among the world’s poorest countries, in the growing urban middle class children receive their first mobile phone at an earlier age. Adolescents, especially the ones living in urban surroundings, quickly jump into social networks and, as soon as they have some cash to spend, buying airtime often becomes their priority. The advantages for their learning are obvious.
Noura Oumar, 22, a medical biotechnology student, and Adam Ibni, 21, in his first year of banking and finance studies, have both been online since the age of 14.
“I’m learning Spanish online, and I always stay well informed about world events,” Adam says proudly.
“I do a lot of useful research for my studies thanks to Google,” Noura explains. “I can also stay in touch with my friends through WhatsApp groups.”
A world of opportunities… and of risks
Mirabelle, too, has come to see Internet access as a world of extraordinary opportunities.
“I use Facebook and WhatsApp a lot. I belong to two groups: U-Reporters in the Central African Republic and Young Christian Students. Thanks to my Internet connection, I’ve also enrolled in an English course, and I follow an online law course offered by an institute in Belgium. Doing research on Google has helped me a great deal with my studies as well.”
She ranked first nationwide in the 2025 Baccalaureate examination. “Becoming a lawyer or a magistrate has always been my dream, and I am determined to achieve it. Thanks to my access to the Internet, I can read many interesting materials that help broaden my knowledge.”
However, the misuse of technology can have serious consequences, including the loss of healthy habits, mental fatigue, social isolation, and anxiety. Young users may also face concrete dangers such as cyber-harassment or exposure to harmful content. Adam recalls an experience that left him shaken:
“One day, I realized that my WhatsApp account had been hacked. I was very angry and upset. Fortunately, a friend who was more knowledgeable helped me secure it and create a new account.”
“I remember a time when I started receiving many messages on Facebook from someone who claimed to be a young man. He soon began asking for my photos, and I felt it was turning into real harassment. When he asked for my phone number, I decided not to respond and to remain silent—until he eventually got tired and stopped messaging me,” Mirabelle says.
Adam and Noura say they are grateful to their parents for having guided them through some of the risks and dangers adolescents may face when using the Internet. “But in the end, it’s a matter of personal responsibility,” Noura remarks. “You quickly realize that some unknown individuals are out there trying to take advantage of you or harass you sexually. You have to stop them immediately.”
Both call for zero tolerance toward cyber-harassment and for better information for young people and adolescents, so they can avoid falling into such traps. “I always tell my friends to make sure their accounts are properly secured,” Adam says.
“And people must be very careful when dealing with requests from unknown senders, especially when they ask for photos or personal information,” Noura concludes.