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Boys now face higher risk of online abuse, new report says
What you need to know:
- Legal and Human Rights Centre insists, however, that online abuse remains more common among young girls despite boys being dominant users of social media
Dar es Salaam. When Yohana* and Timothy*, both university students, were introduced to a bookmaker, they believed their betting frustrations were over. After earlier losses, they thought having a connection with a bookmaker would give them a winning edge. For Sh247,000, they were promised a “guaranteed” betting code.
“We did not hesitate. We paid instantly,” Yohana recalls.
With odds at 157, they staked a total of Sh130,000—Sh50,000 from Yohana and Sh80,000 from Timothy—expecting a joint win of Sh20.4 million. Instead of hitting the jackpot, they received a fake code. Their bets failed, and they lost all their money.
“When we went back to him asking what happened, they refused to refund us,” Yohana says. The students pleaded, explaining that the money was all they had for upkeep at college. The reply was blunt: “This is business. There are no refunds. Take this as a lesson.”
Yohana and Timothy are among a growing number of young men falling victim to online abuse, scams, and fraud. Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate that boys are more likely than girls to be victims of online abuse.
According to the NBS’ National Survey on Violence against Young People and Children, 2024, 4.7 percent of all children abused online were boys, compared to one percent for girls.
However, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Executive Director Anna Henga insists that online abuse remains more common among young girls.
“Young girls are vulnerable to online abuse despite boys being dominant users of social media,” she said, citing social and cultural factors, easy access to social media, and revenge porn as key drivers.
The Head of Programme, Activism and Movement at the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), Ms Florah Ndaba, said access to gadgets also puts boys at risk. She noted that boys’ “inborn aggressive tendencies” make them more likely to engage in online confrontations.
Ms Ndaba cited a 2023 UNICEF study showing that in 54 countries, the average gender parity ratio in internet use was 71—meaning that for every 100 young men using the internet, only 71 young women did so.
The study, which involved more than 10,000 users aged 14 to 21 and their parents across six countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and India, found that girls are often closely monitored, told they are vulnerable, and seen as lacking digital skills.
“This creates an environment of low self-confidence. The perception is that if they are fewer in number, they are less likely to face abuse in that space,” Ms Ndaba said.
She added that while the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has issued parental guidance, it has not been widely disseminated.
Dar es Salaam-based psychologist Thereza Martin said harmful stereotypes, such as “all men are the same,” and the tendency to overgeneralise men as abusers, are partly behind the rise in online abuse against boys.
She called for support groups where men can share experiences, access therapy, and learn strategies to counter abuse, noting that online support often focuses on women and children, overlooking men.
“There is an urgent need for support groups for men where they can openly share experiences, gain a support network, and make resources such as therapy accessible,” she said.
Telecommunication and artificial intelligence expert Dr Michael Mollel said boys’ vulnerability is linked to high internet use and digital illiteracy, which leaves them open to peer pressure and risky online behaviour.
Experts recommend digital literacy campaigns, stronger parental involvement, and stricter law enforcement.
“Parents can set parental guidance on their children’s phones or at least be aware of the harmful effects of giving children gadgets,” Ms Ndaba advised.
