The government has issued a stern warning against the use of children in social media content without their consent, raising the prospect of legal action against those involved.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Ateenyi said his office had received a complaint from Mukono Municipality MP Betty Namboze Bakireke and a group of children’s rights advocates over what they described as the growing exploitation of minors online.
Ateenyi said he had reviewed several videos circulating on social media, including one involving a content creator known as “Chicken Chicken,” in which a child is allegedly forced to kneel before being given food.
“This is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Such behavior must stop with immediate effect,” he said.
He warned individuals associated with the videos, including a figure referred to as “Aunt Chuni,” to stop involving children in content that could amount to harassment or exploitation.
He noted that while discipline is part of raising children, it should not be turned into public content.
The minister said using children in content without their consent amounts to exploitation and violates their rights.
He cautioned that those involved could face action under Uganda’s child protection laws, privacy and consent regulations, and legislation on child labour and online safety.
The warning comes amid the rapid growth of social media platforms such as TikTok, where content creators are increasingly producing viral videos to grow their audiences and earn income.
Ateenyi said Uganda must take steps to safeguard children in the digital space, pointing to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, where laws regulate children’s participation in online content.
He urged content creators, parents and the public to prioritise the protection of minors and avoid exposing them to situations that could harm their dignity or wellbeing.
“Our responsibility is to protect children, not expose them,” he said.