The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion has advised parents and caregivers to use technology responsibly in raising children, noting that while digital tools play a major role in daily life, they can also negatively affect Rwandan culture if not properly managed.
As technology continues to grow rapidly in Rwanda and around the world, the number of users is increasing every day, especially among children and young people. However, some parents have expressed concern that today’s children are exposed to harmful content on social media platforms and other applications, which is gradually changing the values and upbringing they receive.
Mutamuriza Agnes, a parent living in Mukura Sector in Huye District, said:“Today, children are seeing things on phones and tablets that we never saw when we were young. These things affect them, and sometimes we notice changes in their behavior.”
Uwituze Benilde, who lives in Kigoma Sector in Huye District, added: “It worries us to see a child spending many hours on YouTube or TikTok without knowing exactly what they are watching. We are not sure whether what they see builds their character or destroys it.”
From the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Silas Ngayaboshya, the Director-General for Gender Promotion and Women Empowerment, emphasized that what a child is exposed to at a young age plays a key role in shaping the person they will become in the future.
“What a child sees at a young age is what shapes who they will be. Today, children access a lot of information through technology that can contradict the teachings they receive from parents and educators, leading to the gradual erosion of Rwandan cultural values.” He emphasized.
Ngayaboshya added that technology should not be denied to children but instead used in a balanced way that does not interfere with their upbringing and development.
“Technology is essential for education and learning, but it must be used in a controlled manner. Parents should set rules and time limits for using phones, computers, or televisions, and make sure they know exactly what their children are watching.” He explained.
The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion therefore calls on parents and other caregivers to regularly talk with their children, monitor their activities, and be aware of what they access online, because the content children consume through technology can have either positive or negative effects depending on its nature.
The Ministry also reminds families that upbringing begins at home, and that technology should serve as a tool to help children expand their knowledge rather than become a source of destroying the values of Rwandan culture.
