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For the first time, people report that their primary motivation for using AI\u00a0isn\u2019t entertainment, but learning. In South Africa, where young people are some of the fastest-growing groups of internet users, many teenagers are especially excited about AI and digital tools to support their learning and creativity, but they\u00a0want guidance, balance, and support from adults and educators to help them use these safely and well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In support of\u00a0Safer Internet Day, Google has highlighted five ways students, parents, and educators can work together to keep the focus on safe, effective learning:<\/p>\n
Support learning with smarter online\/offline boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n Knowing when to step away can be as important as knowing when to dive in. Protections like\u00a0SafeSearch\u00a0are on by default for kids, and\u00a0Family Link\u00a0can support smarter boundaries, including screen-time management, app approvals, content filters, privacy settings, and more. \u201cSchool time\u201d supports distraction-free learning by limiting device functionality during school and homework hours.<\/p>\n In South Africa, where many young people access the internet primarily via mobile phones, these tools can help families manage data use and late-night scrolling while keeping space for homework, rest, and offline activities.<\/p>\n Foster critical thinking in the age of AI<\/strong><\/p>\n From history to computer science, anyone diving into anything needs to know the \u201cwhy\u201d as readily as the \u201cwhat\u201d. Using\u00a0Guided Learning in Gemini, learners are guided to approach complex problems step-by-step, encouraging critical thinking over shortcuts and answers. Nearly\u00a0three-quarters of people\u00a0now use AI for education, and\u00a0most teachers\u00a0believe AI will improve student outcomes.<\/p>\n Help teens spot AI content and evaluate info online<\/strong><\/p>\n As sophisticated AI tools become more common, understanding the origin and context of media we interact with is more important than ever. Best practices like the \u201cSIFT\u201d method in the\u00a0Super Searchers\u00a0training programme \u2013 Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims \u2013 help students critically evaluate online information. \u201cAbout this image\u201d in Search\u00a0provides helpful context about the images you come across online, and\u00a0SynthID\u00a0watermarks identify when an image, audio, or video was created using Google\u2019s AI.<\/p>\n Involve parents and guardians<\/strong><\/p>\n Parents can stay involved by understanding the platforms their children use, working together to set family guidelines whether learning, socialising, or more. YouTube\u2019s\u00a0supervised accounts for teens\u00a0are designed to respect a teen\u2019s growing autonomy while still ensuring parents are in the loop, providing shared insights into their teens\u2019 channel activity, including the number of uploads, subscriptions and comments. This year, we also introduced a set of\u00a0quality principles\u00a0that will make it easier for teens to find higher quality, enriching, age-appropriate content on YouTube.\u00a0<\/p>\n Improve digital citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n The online world is a global community, and good citizenship extends beyond the classroom. With\u00a0cyberbullying a growing concern\u00a0\u2013 and with South Africa among the countries reporting high levels of cyberbullying among teens \u2013 it\u2019s more important than ever to teach the fundamentals of digital citizenship and online safety.\u00a0Be Internet Awesome\u00a0provides resources for educators and families to empower young people to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online.<\/p>\n Kabelo Makwane, Country Director for Google South Africa, said Google has a responsibility to make the internet safer for young people while encouraging confidence: \u201cAcross South Africa, we\u2019re seeing incredible curiosity from young people who are using technology \u2013 and now AI \u2013 to learn, to create, and to connect in new ways.<\/p>\n \u201cBut as their world expands, so does their need for support. Helping them stay safe online isn\u2019t only about protecting what they see and do, it\u2019s about equipping them with the digital confidence to make good choices, ask questions, and keep learning. Safer Internet Day is a reminder that building a better web for the next generation is something we all share a role in.\u201d<\/p>\n Access, with the appropriate guardrails, can open up new avenues of learning, creativity and opportunity for young people. For practical tools and resources to help families explore, learn, and stay protected, check out the\u00a0Family Guide to Online Safety in 2026\u00a0.<\/p>\n Google<\/em>\u00a0supports\u00a0<\/em>Safer Internet Day<\/em>\u00a0(SID), a European Commission-led initiative that brings together stakeholders worldwide to promote a safer, more positive internet. SID is organised as part of the European Commission\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>Better Internet for Kids<\/em>\u00a0initiative. In Africa, Google also supports\u00a0<\/em>Africa Safer Internet Day<\/em>\u00a0(ASID), a continent-wide effort aligned with the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy to help turn online safety commitments into concrete action for African children.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n