The Film and Publication Board (FPB) on Friday welcomed a planned crackdown by cellphone chat service MXit on child predators.

“MXit’s zero-tolerance policy against paedophilia and paedophiles on their platforms and society at large is commendable,” said FPB head Yoliswa Makhasi.

The social network, which is popular amongst school children, recently announced that it would curb the posting of pornographic or explicit material on its site.

The move came at a crucial time, said Makhasi. Children were most likely to be drawn to social networking platforms during and after the 2010 World Cup.

“We also hope and trust that other industry players will soon follow MXit’s example and protect the country’s assets — its children.”

A 2008 FPB study found that 54% of the participants had received pictures from someone else in a chat room and some — more girls than boys — said people had tried to set up a meeting with them.

The children surveyed told researchers that strangers’ online requests were open and direct.

The Films and Publications Act states that owners and operators of all telecommunications channels targeted at and used by children will be held responsible for the content created and distributed within those mediums. — Sapa