Addressing Social Media Challenges For Children
Technological advancements, especially in new media, have made it increasingly challenging to keep children away from social media. This has been particularly evident as the use of devices surged during the online teaching and learning processes introduced amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the benefits of unlimited access to information and seamless communication, concerns have emerged regarding the potential ‘costs’ associated with the advantages of this borderless world created by social media platforms.
These issues include concerns related to cyberbullying among children, sexual exploitation like pedophilia, online fraud, and other challenges that raise worries for parents and society as a whole.
On Oct 26, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had received complaints about the presence of child sexual grooming groups on social media platforms.
WEIGHING THE GOOD AND BAD
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Children Act 2001, a child is defined as someone who has not yet reached the age of 18.
Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to state that children typically lack the maturity to evaluate situations effectively, rendering them easily influenced and vulnerable to exploitation—particularly when using social media without proper guidance or oversight.
Commenting on the issue, President of the Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA), Siraj Jalil, said the challenges children face when using social media are critical. While these platforms offer opportunities for connection and information sharing, they also pose significant risks, exposing children to various negative aspects.
He noted that the lack of guidelines and controls could result in children interacting with unknown individuals, experiencing device addiction, being swayed by various trends in digital content, encountering misinformation, and facing safety threats such as cyberbullying and sexual exploitation.
“The approach to cybersecurity requires urgent attention, including educational initiatives for parents and efforts to raise children's awareness of the dangers present in the digital world. Children are easily influenced by the content displayed on social media, which often affects their lifestyles and fosters unhealthy values.
"According to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report 'Our Lives Online' in 2020, 91 per cent of Malaysian children aged 13 to 17 use the Internet daily, with 70 per cent having been exposed to disturbing content, and more than 40 per cent of them are unwilling to seek help.
“A study by UNICEF Malaysia in 2021 showed that four per cent of children aged 12 to 17 who use the Internet face threats of online sexual exploitation and abuse. This statistic highlights the need for guidance and direction to ensure they are protected from the negative influences of social media," he told Bernama recently.
Among the cases received by the MCCA involving harmful social media influences on children was the exposure of children to content on X (previously known as Twitter) platform that contains 'Dark Side' elements.
'Dark Side' refers to the dark side of individuals or groups who hide their true identities while focusing on sexual activities, thereby having a negative, immoral, and harmful impact on other cyber users.
According to Siraj, children exposed to such content are easily swayed into engaging in immoral activities, including sexual acts with peers and minors. This highlights the dangers of uncontrolled content and the absence of safety guidelines designed to protect children.
He also said that device addiction among children is increasingly concerning as they often spend excessive time on social media, disrupting their learning process and hindering social development.
“These cases show that children not only need guidance but also ongoing emotional support to mitigate the negative impacts of social media, which can damage their mental health.
"MCCA has also received tragic complaints of cyberbullying involving a child who became a victim of ongoing bullying, ultimately leading to depression and chronic mental health issues," he said, adding that cyberbullying can also lead to death, as seen in the case of social media influencer A. Rajeswary, known as Esha, previously.
DIGITAL SAFETY EDUCATION
On April 21, the MCMC reminded parents to ensure that their children under the age of 13 do not have any social media accounts such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media accounts.
Fahmi said the MCMC has found that children under the age of 13 are not suitable for using any social media, as most social media platforms' terms prohibit this age group from having accounts.
Describing it as a proactive measure to protect children in their use of social media, Siraj believes that implementing this initiative requires a strict age verification system and active parental involvement to monitor their children's digital activities.
He said that support from social media platforms in screening underage users is crucial, in addition to digital safety education programmes being introduced in schools to help parents and teachers guide children in the responsible use of social media.
“At home, parents play an important role in informal education, while in schools, counselling teachers play a role in formally shaping the character and digital identity of children. The combined roles of the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) are very significant in the success of the digital literacy education plan (social media) for children.
“Education regarding privacy and data safety must be taught to children. The MCCA recommends that digital safety education modules be introduced in schools as a step to educate children not to expose their personal information on social media. With the cooperation of parents and teachers, awareness regarding privacy and personal data can be nurtured from an early age, thereby reducing the risk of digital exploitation among children.
“It is time for the government to review existing modules under the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), including the Cyber Parenting and Children's Online Safety Modules, which need to be more widely implemented to educate parents and children about online safety,” he said.
He also said that parents need to have knowledge related to technology to monitor the websites visited by their children, including Internet Security and Acceleration software, Cybernanny, CyberPatrol, Google Family Link, and NetFilter Home, which aim to accurately filter website content.
NOT A LOCAL ISSUE
Meanwhile, sharing his views, the Dean of the School of Multimedia Technology and Communication at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Khairie Ahmad, said concerns about children due to the effects of online activities are not localised but are challenges faced worldwide.
He said an analysis by a group of experts at Yale University found that individuals who use social media for more than three hours a day are at twice the risk of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
He said all forms of concerns such as cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and online fraud revolve around the well-being of children.
“In this regard, there are three aspects of well-being that we must pay attention to: physical well-being (development of health and abilities as well as personal safety), social well-being (participating and interacting within the community), and emotional well-being (development of healthy emotions).
“Disruptions caused by online activities risk hindering the personal development of children, which can initially be seen in their lack of communication or socialisation with parents and peers,” he said.
He said children’s nature of being exploratory and trying new things can lead them to get caught in unhealthy situations, in addition to several reports from international bodies such as UNICEF that have reported concerning statistics.
“For instance, a study across 30 countries found that one in three children faces cyberbullying, with 20 per cent of affected children missing school as a result of this serious issue.
“In another study, UNICEF reported that around 80 per cent of children from 25 countries felt threatened due to online abuse or sexual exploitation last year,” he said.
According to Mohd Khairie, in this context, social comparison theory can explain the influence of social media on children.
“Children have the potential to compare themselves with what is displayed on social media. This situation can cause them to feel inadequate, have low self-esteem, and even be pressured when comparing what they have with what is shown on social media.
“The displays and creations on social media are more easily absorbed by children, who generally have limited thinking capabilities and values. Coupled with their strong desire to try and explore, they become easily excited by what new media presents,” he said.
SOCIAL MEDIA AS A 'LIFELONG FRIEND'
Mohd Khairie described the new industrial and economic revolution as compelling for the world to become entrenched in the digital communication ecosystem and cyber environment, noting that all segments of society are affected and cannot be easily excluded.
However, it is alarming that children are regarded as a high-risk group, as they increasingly spend time on online platforms, with social media becoming their ‘lifelong friend.’
He said a study by Internetmatters.org showed that 70 per cent of children watch videos online, 66 per cent play online, and 42 per cent are active on social media.
“This data highlights the risks of negative impacts such as sexual abuse, pedophilia, mental health issues, kidnapping, and even suicide. To face these challenges, the role of the family is very important.
“Parents should not only monitor but also create a supportive space where their children feel comfortable confiding in them. Strengthening the bond between children and their families is essential.
“Efforts must also be made to minimise the experiences of online threats among children, as two out of three children are reported to encounter such issues,” he said, adding that platform and application providers, particularly social media companies, must enhance their responsibilities to ensure their platforms present low risks for children.
He also noted that innovative legislation and regulations, along with preventive measures, are essential due to the rapidly evolving nature of technology. Furthermore, enforcement must be proactively strengthened without waiting for complaints to arise.
“Curriculum reform related to digital education should be accelerated. A curriculum focused solely on digital applications is outdated. Instead, we need a curriculum that emphasises Media and Information Literacy (MIL), which highlights children's ability to evaluate the credibility of media sources and the authenticity of information,” he explained.
Fahmi has said last month, the initiative to bring the Online Safety Bill to Parliament soon aims to comprehensively address online safety issues, particularly concerning four major types of criminal activities: scams, online gambling, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children.
On Oct 31, Fahmi also commented on his meeting with Meta earlier, during which he reprimanded the company for still failing to address paedophilia and child sexual grooming crimes, particularly on Facebook.
He said the government cannot allow more time for social media licensing in efforts to combat online crimes, including paedophilia and scam activities.
The government, he added, will not compromise on this matter as social media safety issues, especially involving children and families, have become more widespread.
Earlier, Fahmi, who is also the Unity Government spokesman said that under guidelines established in line with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, any platform without a licence after Jan 1, 2025 may face action under Section 126 of the Act.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat last month, announced an allocation of RM30 million to bolster efforts to curb scams as well as enhancing cyber security in Malaysia.
Translated by Salbiah Said
