"Meta plans to expose the identities of individuals running underage porn sites in South Africa"
In South Africa, popular social media platforms known for celebrity gossip have become a breeding ground for a disturbing trend. Teenagers are using these channels to expose each other's secrets, share private photos or videos without consent, and engage in a practice known as "revenge porn."
A teenage victim, speaking anonymously, shared her harrowing experience of discovering that her private pictures were trending on WhatsApp, leaving her feeling stressed, anxious, and betrayed. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
The Gauteng High Court has taken a step towards addressing this issue by ordering Meta, the owner of WhatsApp and Instagram, to shut down the offending channels, permanently disable them, and provide information about the account holders.
The Cybercrimes Act (2021) and the Films and Publications Amendment Act (2019) are South Africa's key laws that criminalize the distribution of intimate content without consent. Offenders can face up to four years in prison or a fine of R300,000. However, enforcement remains challenging due to encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, which obscure private content and hide admin identities, making tracing abuse nearly impossible.
Digital Law Company uncovered more than 1,000 posts across 30 accounts, revealing a coordinated network using similar names and tactics, likely run by the same group. Teacher Andrew Mabuza described these groups as turning children into traders of abusive material, referring to the practice as child pornography.
Victims often have no idea who posted the content or how to hold anyone accountable. Even when channels are deleted, the damage persists due to screenshots and reposts spreading to platforms like Telegram and Twitter.
Meta has agreed to release the information of those behind accounts that posted revenge porn of minors across its platforms in South Africa. However, the enforcement of these laws remains difficult, and there have been calls for increased parental vigilance, as well as for schools to implement digital literacy programs and for tech companies to strengthen reporting systems.
Youth nonprofit MoTsha Change in Motion is advocating for urgent reforms, urging tech companies to take action against digital abuse and schools to educate students about the emotional and legal consequences of their actions. MoTsha is particularly concerned about the emotional toll of digital abuse, stating that it can lead to anxiety, suicidal ideation, and severe long-lasting effects.
Parents, teachers, and youth groups have expressed concerns about a troubling trend of WhatsApp and Instagram shaderoom channels. These channels allow anonymous broadcasting to large audiences, with admins and members remaining hidden and moderation being virtually nonexistent. The normalization of digital abuse among minors poses a significant challenge, as many view these platforms as "funny" or harmless rather than exploitative.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for laws, education, and technology to adapt to protect the most vulnerable members of society: our children.
- Technology companies, such as Meta (owner of WhatsApp and Instagram), are under pressure to strengthen their reporting systems, as the normalization of digital abuse among minors on their platforms poses a significant challenge.
- Education and self-development programs are being advocated for in schools to educate students about the emotional and legal consequences of their actions on social media, as digital abuse can lead to anxiety, suicidal ideation, and severe long-lasting effects.
- General news outlets have reported on the growing issue of revenge porn on social media platforms like WhatsApp, which not only violates the privacy of the victims but also constitutes a crime under South Africa's Cybercrimes Act (2021) and Films and Publications Amendment Act (2019), with offenders facing up to four years in prison or a fine of R300,000.
