Despite the popular narrative that young people are digital gurus, the accolades need a keen approach.
With the proliferation of smartphones and Wi-Fi in schools and public spaces, access to social media has never been easier for young people or more worrisome for parents.
Most parents are worried about the effects of social media on young people’s school performance or social skills.
They may sometimes respond by monitoring teens’ online activities, but such scrutiny may do more harm than good.
In recent times youths especially, the undergraduates, have taken to the illicit trade called internet scams which has led to the development and spread of cyber fraud.
The fraudulent business has gained prevalence in Kenya with the accessibility of the internet.
The youth who engage in this business become rich overnight, with or without their parents’ knowledge.
They are highly respected and often initiate their peers into the scam offering lessons on how to make easy and quick money.
Many families are happy that their children are attending institutions of higher learning but they have less information on what their children are really into.
Few youths usually mind the company they keep and whom they discern as apprentices.
These days, a large number of unemployed youths and undergraduates studying are turning out to be a generation of scammers and internet fraudsters known and unknown to their parents and society.
Unfortunately, this has encouraged many more to join, as those who have made it through scams sort of serve as role models in a recessed economy and a society of declining moral latitude.
Recently we witnessed the mysterious killing of four men whose bodies were found in a forest.
It is alleged they were involved in the online prospects of selling fake academic writing accounts.
Their families denounced their lavish living and knew nothing of what their children were involved in.
Amid this booming ‘business,’ one wonders what should be done to curb the trend before it escalates further.
Since it is an online activity, it becomes hard to track these activities but the government should up its actions and increase collaboration with banks, rather than leave the duty to the regular police officers.
If not, Kenya is in for a generation of scammers and its effect on the future is better imagined.
The government should strengthen cyber crime laws and try to launch proposals that will improve transparency, and accountability and tackle harmful, fraudulent, and misleading adverts and approaches.
Except for something is done, the next generation of youths appears jinxed, engaging in cybercrimes, selling fake online accounts, and other vices.
The number is growing at an alarming rate due to the lack of unemployment and the notion in the minds of many that though they will graduate, there are no jobs.
Youths have to engage themselves in meaningful ventures to earn a living, rather than involve themselves in fraud and dubious activities.
The sad truth is, among the joblessness, there are millions of jobs in Kenya that are legitimate.
The issue of using shortcuts to success is becoming the order of the day and mitigative measures ought to be sought.
There is also pressure from parents for the youth to work and acquire money which pushes the young people to engage in such businesses.
Parents and guardians should foster integrity and be inclusive of what the young people are doing, be on the lookout for their conduct, and the friends they keep, and should always try to engage them in family talks and open-minded sessions to try and impart guidance and counselling.
Youths should realise that money is never the end goal. It should be a byproduct of actively pursuing what they are passionate about and that there is more to life than quick fraudulent money.
They should find investments in decent jobs if they are to live a life of self-worth and a long life in legit businesses which they will do without being suspected or being victimised.
Procurement assistant officer, Centre for Study of Adolescence
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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