Be aware of social media perverts, stalkers when posting photos online, experts tell parents
SHAH ALAM - Parents and adults who share videos and photos of children in public eating, playing or annoyed are advised to consider the potential threats to the child.
This comes after a rise of sexual misconduct by 42 per cent from 2020 and 2021 after their photos were uploaded on social media.
Criminologist Datuk Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim said sharing videos is equivalent to showing off how cute or smart their children were without acknowledging the risks. "Stalkers have their own plans. Maybe they know the child is from a well off family which could lead to a kidnapping," he said.
Malaysia however, has not created any laws over children's personal privacy act in digital space while such acts are have been enacted in the US under Children's Online Privacy Protection Act to curb being exposed to pedophilia and sexual assault.
He said the photos have the potential of gaining attention of perverts in social media.
"As parents, they should protect their child instead of exposing them to such risks," he told Sinar Harian.
Crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim said he respects parents rights to share photos on social media.
However, he said parents should know the means of blocking the negative elements.
"This is equivalent to us opening the doors for perverts. When it is exposed it will provide an opportunity for these criminals.
"A single picture or video that we share to them is the equivalent of a commodity to be sold," he said.
Management and Science University (MSU) Criminologist Nadiah Syariani Md Shariff views excessive uploading or daily uploading could invite trouble.
She said the information could be misused or the child's identity could be stolen for online scams.
"Even though sharing would not prove to be an issue now however, but since it would be onlive for a long time it could potentially be exploited in future," she said.
