T
he rapid advancement of the telecommunications industry, proliferation of smart and mobile devices and expansion of Internet access have made social connectivity possible anytime and anywhere.
Technology and social media platforms have become inseparable companions in modern life – so integral that many feel their day is incomplete without going online.
Having transformed lifestyles across all age groups, the borderless digital world raises concerns such as digital addiction and exposure to cyber threats. Children are especially vulnerable, often unknowingly falling prey to predators, scammers and bullies in cyberspace.
According to UNICEF’s ‘Our Lives Online’ report in 2020, 91 percent of Malaysian children aged 13 to 17 accessed the Internet daily, with 70 percent exposed to disturbing content and more than 40 percent unwilling to seek help.
In 2021, a study by UNICEF Malaysia found that four percent of children aged 12 to 17 who used the Internet had experienced threats of sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in its 2020 Internet Users Survey, also revealed that 56.3 percent of children surfed the Internet alone using digital devices.
CAMPAIGN
In response to these concerns, the nationwide Safe Internet Campaign, launched recently by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with MCMC, serves as a timely initiative to promote cyber safety and teach the public, especially primary schoolchildren, to become responsible Internet users.
As Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil rightly points out in a brief video message, produced by National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and MCMC and aired on TV in conjunction with the launch of the Safe Internet Campaign, children today are exposed to a borderless world filled with threats and deception.
In Sabah, nearly 1,300 schools are involved in the campaign, including Sung Siew National Primary School in Sandakan, about 324 kilometres from here.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. Make sure our children are protected from cyber dangers that are ever present. Monitor all their online activities.
“The digital world must be a safe space – not a trap that destroys our children’s future,” he said.
The module for the Safe Internet Campaign focuses on four key areas: cyberbullying; online scams and gambling; child sexual exploitation; and data protection and digital literacy. The organisers hope to conduct the campaign in more than 10,000 educational institutions by the end of this year.
Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan (SRK) Sung Siew in Sandakan was among the schools in Sabah where the campaign was carried out.
Its headmistress Liew Choi Yen described the initiative as the right step towards guiding schoolchildren to use the Internet safely.
A total of 120 Year Four to Year Six pupils from her school took part in the campaign in June, with each activity conducted by trained facilitators from MCMC.
Liew said the rapid growth of technology, including the emergence of artificial intelligence, calls for the implementation of campaigns such as this to enhance digital literacy and serve as a safeguard to protect young children from negative influences and cyber threats.
“The activities held as part of this campaign were very interesting and creative. With this initiative, students will learn to distinguish online content that is appropriate for their age and be able to navigate the Internet safely. We hope this campaign will be expanded further because it is highly beneficial,” she told Bernama.
She said the Safe Internet Campaign should also involve pupils from Year One to Year Three to ensure they are not left behind in learning about the ethical use of digital devices and the Internet.
Liew added that parental involvement is equally important, especially in monitoring children’s online activities as they spend more time at home than in school.
Chong Yee Kei, a guidance and counselling teacher at SRK Sung Siew, said close cooperation between parents and teachers is essential in supervising students’ online behaviour and encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid overdependence on smart devices.
PREVENTION
She also believed the Safe Internet Campaign can help students understand how to use technology more responsibly and protect themselves from cyber exploitation.
This is particularly important now, she said, as digital learning has become widespread among students, which indirectly exposes them to online risks when left unsupervised.
Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching (second, left) explains how to use the internet safely to several school students in conjunction with the Safe Internet Campaign at Sung Siew National Primary School.
Chong, who is also her school’s Kapten K-Dat (Safe Internet Campaign icon), noted: “Digital learning platforms are generally safe as they don’t involve social media. However, there is concern when students use the Internet for study, but also browse other sites at the same time.
“This becomes a risk when there is no parental or teacher supervision. Students may be exposed to various threats, including scammers. They are underage and often unaware that sharing personal information is unsafe. Through this campaign, students are learning to use digital platforms more wisely,” she explained.
She also recommended that the campaign continue in the future so that more students become aware of online risks and the consequences of improper Internet use.
Sharifah Alya Adriana Habib Alibi, 12, a Year Six pupil at SRK Sung Siew, said after participating in the campaign, she now understands the importance of using the Internet safely due to the large amount of content that is inappropriate for children her age.
“This campaign teaches students to use social media properly, safely and under parental supervision,” said Sharifah Alya, who spends between one and four hours a day online, mostly for learning and playing games.
BE MORE FIRM
Sharing his experience, 12-year-old Brandon Jeffrin said he is happy he took part in the campaign as the information provided at each activity station was easy to understand.
Mohd Daniel Quesairy Abdul Lamit, also 12, said the campaign not only taught participants proper Internet etiquette but also raised awareness about the risks of spending too much time on smart devices as it can have a negative impact on health.
Teo Nie Ching (centre) participated in a netball game with school students in conjunction with the Safe Internet Campaign at Sung Siew National Primary School recently.
Parents interviewed by Bernama also supported the campaign and hoped it would be implemented more widely, given the growing use of smart devices and the Internet among children today.
Norayuni Jaafar, 38, said parenting apps can help parents monitor their children’s use of smart devices and the Internet, including ensuring the content they access is not harmful.
“We need to keep up with the times because schoolwork is now often done via mobile phones. That’s why controlling children’s Internet use is important to prevent them from accessing unsafe apps or content,” she said.
Another parent Herman Yussof, 47, takes a firmer approach by setting screen time limits to ensure his children use their devices and the Internet mainly for studying and completing their homework.
“I allow them to use the Internet (as a leisure activity) only on Saturdays and Sundays. Usage is limited to between 8 am and noon. From Monday to Friday, it’s strictly for learning and completing schoolwork… but not till late at night as they have to go to school the next day,” he said.
