Young people should practise caution when scrolling social media

KUALA LUMPUR: It is crucial for kids to stay safe while growing up in a digital world, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

To make this happen, she calls on everyone to work together to create a safe environment where children can explore, create and learn without fear of harm.

“But achieving this requires collaboration among families, educators and digital platform operators to equip children with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the online world,” she says.

Although digital platforms have given children the opportunity to learn, connect and develop skills for their future, these advances come with risks, including cyberbullying, misinformation and sexual exploitation. Such online threats are a global concern that needs urgent attention.

“Working together ensures that every Malaysian child can look forward to a brighter future,” she said at the recent World Children’s Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur.

Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, who also attended the event, says it is important for children to prioritise privacy in their everyday lives, offline and online.

“We live in a world where everyone is always sharing personal aspects of their life without realising how dangerous this can be,” she says. “Teaching children the importance of being safe in digital spaces is crucial as it gives them the knowledge they need to navigate the online world safely.”

Marina was one of the panellists in an inter-generational dialogue held during the event where teenagers and adults talked about keeping kids safe online.

Jessie Lee, a participant in the 2024 International Symposium on the Empowerment of Children’s Commission says children can stay safe online by only trusting the right people when sharing their personal information such as addresses, passwords and social media handles.

“Never give out your information to strangers because not all of them can be trusted, online or offline,” says the 15-year-old.

Lee also adds that activating two-way encryption in messaging apps in children’s phones is a good way for parents to keep an eye on their interactions online.

“This makes it easier for parents to view the texts stored in their children’s phones,” she says.

Arjun Jaya Vijaya, 17, says that young people should be selective with whom they approve as followers on social media.

“I have seen private profiles on Instagram with 300 followers but most of them are often strangers,” says Arjun Jaya, a student from SMK Alor Akar, Pahang, who won the National ICT Security Discourse (NICTSeD). It was a programme organised by Cybersecurity Malaysia for secondary school students to be responsible and informed Internet users.

An American study published in 2022 in the National Library of Medicine found that kids and teenagers who use social media are more vulnerable to online grooming and cyberbullying. “Uncontrolled social media use can also lead to sexting and unwanted exposure to sexual material online,” it says.

This highlights the need for young people to exercise caution when it comes to their social media following. “It is best for you to really know someone before you include them in your list of followers,” Arjun adds.

Sharifah Nur Alyaa Syed Azhar, 16, says children need to be aware when scrolling through TikTok and Instagram as these sites often attract younger audiences.

“Sometimes we may feel pressured to participate in harmful trends we see on TikTok without understanding the risks that come with it,” she says.

Without supervision, these children can fall victim to unsafe activities. For instance, a TikTok trend known as the “blackout challenge” which entails holding one’s breath until one passes out resulted in the hospitalisation of multiple American teenagers.

Sharifah Alyaa adds that talking to an adult about these trends is a good approach for kids to take. “It is natural for teenagers to be curious about the trends and challenges we find on social media… but it is best to share that curiosity with someone who can understand how dangerous these trends might be.” says the runner-up of the NICTSeD.

UN resident coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Karima El Korri says listening to young people talk about these issues helps the older generation provide necessary framework and mechanisms for children to explore social media safely.

“Their opinions call for us to reflect and take action. The progress and investments we make today can change the future of these children tomorrow,” she says.

“Enacting laws and rules that guarantee the moral and appropriate application of AI and technology is imperative for leaders,” Karima concludes.