Safer Internet Day is a key moment for the digital world to focus on safety, but at VoiceBox, we know that the most effective strategies aren’t created in a vacuum. As a youth-led social enterprise dedicated to amplifying young voices, we ensure young people are not just heard but actively involved in shaping solutions.
We recently collaborated with the GSMA to make sure their Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT) parent training modules are grounded in the reality of the families they support. By gathering authentic perspectives from young people across Africa and South Asia, we worked to bridge the gap between parental concern and the real-world digital experiences of their children.
The Methodology
Our approach was rooted in our commitment to authentic youth representation. We structured the project in two distinct phases:
- Phase One (Written Insights): We collected written responses from young people across five countries in Africa and South Asia. These participants shared how they developed their tech skills, the services they prioritise, and what they wished their parents understood about their online lives.
- Phase Two (Deep Dives): We conducted intensive virtual focus groups with participants from Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, India, and Sierra Leone. Lead by ‘near peer’ VoiceBox team members to encourage honest sharing.
The setup for these conversations was a lesson in itself; in Sierra Leone, for example, the entire group was huddled around a single laptop, passing it back and forth to share their thoughts. This is the reality the MISTT resources are designed for: communities where “online safety” isn’t always about high-speed fiber and individual iPhones, but about navigating a shared digital space with limited data and collective access.
Key Insights
These studies revealed an important paradox: while parents are often the primary gatekeepers of technology, it’s usually their children who are the true digital experts at home. This balance creates both tension and opportunity: young people want to be trusted for their expertise yet still look to parents for understanding and support, especially when they encounter risk online.
As conversations continued, another theme became clear: young people feel a disconnect between their digital lives and how their parents perceive them. For these participants, the internet goes far beyond entertainment, it’s woven into their daily lives as a source of connection and comfort. It helps them keep friendships alive, share support, and feel part of their communities. Messaging apps, in particular, were mentioned multiple times as the go-to space for staying in touch, and looking out for one another.
When we asked what they wish their parents understood, the answers were strikingly mature. They aren’t looking for their parents to become tech geniuses overnight. Instead, they want them to move beyond the impulse to “block and monitor.” They spoke about wanting their parents to simply show up in their digital spaces, whether that’s asking about a funny video they saw or even attempting a TikTok dance together. These small moments of engagement build a foundation of trust that makes it much easier to talk about serious online risks, like cyberbullying or the sophisticated phishing scams they’re increasingly worried about.
The most striking outcome of this work was the eagerness of the participants to take the lead. Beyond being safe themselves, they want to support their peers who might not have the same level of digital literacy. Their feedback reinforced a core principle we hold at VoiceBox: you can’t create effective tools for young people without involving them in the process. They want to be active partners in shaping the resources that impact their lives.
As the new MISTT guidance launches this February, it’s backed by the honest, unfiltered perspectives of the young people we spoke with from Sierra Leone to South Asia. Their involvement highlights a simple truth: the most effective programs are the ones built alongside the people they serve. By treating youth as active partners in research, we can create more accurate and impactful guidance. It is about moving toward a model where youth expertise is the standard for how we develop digital safety resources globally. For more information download the Online Safety Advice for Parents and Carers (MISTT) module.
About VoiceBox
VoiceBox is a global content platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of young creators aged 13-25. By providing a space where young people can share their perspectives, VoiceBox ensures their voices have an equal seat at the table. Creators are empowered to publish content on topics they’re passionate about, and each published creator is directly paid for their work, reflecting VoiceBox’s commitment to fair compensation.
We’ve really valued the opportunity to partner with the GSMA and contribute youth perspectives to these resources. If you are interested in gathering insights from our ambassadors on specific topics, please reach to us. We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that amplify youth perspectives in important discussions!