Play Therapy & Parental Guidance Centre

26/03/2026

A growing digital threat to children is unfolding — and we cannot ignore it.

New findings from the Internet Watch Foundation (2026) reveal a disturbing reality:

▪️ Over 312,000 reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were confirmed in 2025 — the highest ever recorded
▪️ AI-generated abuse content is rapidly increasing, with a 26,000%+ rise in videos in just one year
▪️ 65% of AI-generated videos are classified as the most extreme form of abuse
▪️ These images and videos are becoming so realistic they are often indistinguishable from real children

This is not a “future problem.”
It is happening now — and at scale.

AI is lowering the barriers for offenders:
⚠️ Making abuse content easier and faster to create
⚠️ Increasing the severity and realism of material
⚠️ Fueling demand and normalisation of harm

What does this mean for us as parents, professionals, and communities?

We need to:
✔️ Talk openly with children about their online experiences
✔️ Strengthen digital literacy and critical thinking
✔️ Advocate for stronger safety-by-design in AI technologies
✔️ Support prevention-focused education — not just reaction.

🛑 Children’s safety must come before technological advancement.

If we don’t act early, we risk raising a generation exposed to increasingly harmful and normalised forms of exploitation.

📄 Read and download the full report here:
https://admin.iwf.org.uk/media/hl1nvdti/iwf-ai-csam-report-2026.pdf

Let’s stay informed.
Let’s stay engaged.
Let’s protect children — both online and offline.

01/03/2026

Children today grow up in environments filled with nonstop sound. Even when they are not directly watching, background TV, playlists, and YouTube chatter act like a constant hum their brain must process. This noise doesn’t fade into the background. It quietly demands attention, pulling their focus in tiny, persistent fragments.

A developing brain needs periods of silence to learn how to filter information. Filtering is what allows a child to ignore distractions, hold a thought, and think deeply. But when noise is always present, the brain never gets to practice this. It stays in scanning mode, jumping from sound to sound before settling on anything meaningful.

Over time, this creates a pattern: shorter focus, quicker frustration, and difficulty completing tasks. Many parents see restlessness and assume behavioral issues, when the nervous system is simply overstimulated. Even low-volume noise increases cognitive load, making thinking feel harder than it should.

Silence is not empty. It is neurological training. It strengthens attention networks, supports emotional regulation, and teaches the brain how to stay with a task long enough to learn from it. Quiet moments are essential, not optional.

Turning off background noise isn’t about strict rules. It’s about giving the brain space to breathe, grow, and focus with clarity again.

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

The recent case in Bloubergstrand, where a couple has been accused of the horrific sexual abuse of their own young daughters (aged 3 and 8), along with producing child sexual abuse material, r**e, grooming, and more, is absolutely devastating. These children who should have been safest at home were allegedly betrayed in the worst way possible by the very people meant to protect them.

Dr. Shaheda Omar's powerful expert opinion from the Teddy Bear Foundation reminds us all:

- Your body belongs to you no one has the right to harm you.
- Protection is a duty, not a privilege.
- Abuse thrives in silence protection thrives in awareness.
- Shame belongs on perpetrators, never on victims.
- We must prioritize body safety education, accessible reporting, and swift justice.

The girls have been rescued and placed in safety, and bail has been denied for the accused a step toward accountability. But this case is a painful wake-up call: child protection can't rely on assumptions of safety within families. It demands education, vigilance, empowerment, and decisive action from all of us.

To every child: You deserve to be believed. You are not to blame. You deserve to be safe. Adults our job is to protect you.

Break the silence. Report suspected abuse immediately to SAPS or child protection services. Knowledge protects children silence protects perpetrators.

💔

21/02/2026

Urgent: Our Children’s Digital Safety Is at a Tipping Point

The disturbing rise of AI-generated deepfakes and “e-r**es” is turning what should be unimaginable into a frightening new normal for children online. From sexually explicit deepfake content to manipulated imagery that can circulate widely with near impunity, the digital world is exposing young people to forms of exploitation we’ve never seen before. 

This isn’t just a tech problem — it’s a child protection crisis.

What’s happening: Advanced AI tools are being used to create fabricated sexual content involving minors and to normalise online sexual violence in virtual spaces. 

📌 Why it matters:
• Deepfakes can be weaponised against children without consent.
• Platforms struggle to keep up with the speed and scale of creation and distribution.
• The psychological and social harms are real, even when the images are fabricated.

🤝 We need action from parents, caregivers, educators, policymakers and platforms alike — from stronger safeguards to education about safe online practices.

Let’s protect our children’s dignity and wellbeing — their online and offline lives matter. Share this message.

Read the article from The Daily Maverick here:
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-16-how-deepfakes-and-er**es-became-childrens-new-normal/

20/02/2026

Parents post out of pride, love, and the joy of watching their child grow. But every photo creates a permanent trace a child never agreed to. Their digital identity begins years before they understand the internet. Their story is written by someone else.

Privacy experts warn that large photo trails can expose children to data tracking, facial recognition, image misuse, and identity risks later in life. Many kids reach adolescence with no control over how they appear online. What feels innocent in the moment can shape how they are seen by schools, peers, and even future employers. This is not about guilt. It is about awareness. Choosing fewer photos, tighter settings, and mindful posting protects both safety and dignity. A child deserves the chance to decide who they are online.

Your child’s privacy is a gift only you can give them.

19/02/2026

18/02/2026

When a teen starts pulling away, it’s not always “just a phase.” Changes in behaviour, mood, sleep, or social habits can be quiet signs of social isolation. The earlier we notice, the sooner we can listen, support, and reconnect. 💛

Read more about how to spot the warning signs and how to help here: https://buff.ly/JcHAPTa

11/02/2026

We’ve notified Roblox of our intention to directly test the safety commitments they made last year amid growing concerns regarding child grooming and sexual exploitation risks.

Following engagement with us at a senior level in 2025, Roblox made 9 commitments to support compliance with its obligation to keep Australians – particularly children – safer on their platform.

Roblox informed us at the end of 2025 that it had delivered on its commitments which included:
🛡️ making accounts for users aged under 16 private by default
🛡️ introducing tools to prevent adult users from contacting under 16s without parental consent
🛡️ switching off key features by default for Australian kids like direct chat and ‘experience chat’ until the user has gone through age estimation
🛡️ voice chat will not be allowed between adults and 13–15-year-olds, in addition to the current prohibition on the use of this feature by under 13s.

We’ve been monitoring the delivery of these commitments alongside our broader assessment of the service and any new features it implements.

Subject to the outcome of this assessment and testing, we may take further action under the Online Safety Act.

Penalties for failing to comply with the Act, include seeking penalties of up to $49.5 million.

New codes focused on age-restricted material such as online po*******hy, high impact violence and self-harm come into force on 9 March and apply to Roblox.

These also contain requirements for online gaming services to prohibit and take proportionate action against non-consensual sharing of intimate images, the grooming of children and sexual extortion.

For information about Roblox and key safety links, see The eSafety Guide: https://news.esafety.gov.au/4nrffAc

10/02/2026

Research on children’s digital behavior shows that Roblox can reshape emotional patterns in ways many families do not expect. What appears to be simple play gradually becomes a cycle shaped by rewards, social pressure, and unpredictable excitement that keeps a child’s brain craving more. The shift often shows through begging, irritability, and sudden meltdowns when screen time ends.

Roblox’s design triggers dopamine loops linked to motivation and emotional regulation. For a child, this can feel soothing during gameplay but overwhelming afterward. When the game stops, the nervous system remains activated, making transitions difficult and increasing stress for both parents and children. These reactions are not signs of misbehavior but indicators of digital overload.

Studies in child psychology show that young brains struggle when moving between intense digital stimulation and calmer real-world routines. This mismatch can lead to frustration, mood swings, or emotional shutdown. Understanding this dynamic helps families respond with empathy instead of conflict.

Clear boundaries, predictable routines, and engaging offline activities restore balance and calm. When children receive emotional connection and steady structure, their reactions soften, and the home environment becomes easier for everyone. Digital habits can be reshaped, and healthier rhythms are absolutely possible with consistent support.