I have just read about a 14-year old girl who has disappeared, presumably after chatting to an adult on Mxit. In response, some commentators have suggested that Mxit be "suspended" until something is done to regulate it.

While I understand the frustration of feeling helpless, I nevertheless don't think shutting down Mxit will solve the problem, because children would simply find other outlets to chat - either online or through their cellphones.

What needs to happen is, parents must impress upon their children that going out with the strangers they chat to online is a complete no, no. After all, this is what children have been taught when it comes to talking to strangers at the mall, in the street, etc.

Obviously, adults who want to molest children will always pretend to be children as well. For that reason, children must be taught over and over again that they must under no circumstances go and meet with the strangers they chat to in these chatrooms. Children must be taught social skills to make friends at school or in their own neighbourhoods.

The chat sites can also help parents by banning people who hide their cellphone numbers. I mean, why the secrecy if the intention is just to chat? But then on the other hand, parents might not want just anybody getting hold of their children's cellphone numbers, hence the anonymous chatting. The good thing about not hiding cellphone numbers is that the new FICA regulations could help trace all the people that your child chatted to, as the cellphone networks would have their identity numbers and home addresses. The chat fora themselves could regulate chats by ensuring that children chat only to people around their own ages, as each cellphone number would be linked to an identity number. But this solution is long-term, as the registration of cellphone numbers is still far from being completed.

In the meantime, parents can continue to teach children not to ever meet the "children" they chat to in fora like Mxit.

Do you have any views on this topic?