Danger zone or learning tool? Taming the internet for healthy child development

SHAH ALAM - The internet, while a valuable tool, presents unique challenges for children's development.

Malaysian Psycho Spiritual Well-being Association Deputy Chairman, Psychologist and Suicidologist Dr Adnan Omar highlighted how unfiltered online content can hinder social skills and healthy development.

Adnan acknowledged that social media, like family and schools, plays a role in shaping children.

However, unlike traditional institutions, social media lacks control over content.

Importance of Guidance and Boundaries

This exposes children to potentially harmful material like violence or inappropriate entertainment, which they may lack the maturity to process effectively.

“When children encounter unnecessary materials or content online, such as violent games, sexual content, and incessant entertainment, they lack the ability to comprehend and intellectually process the inappropriateness and harms associated with such materials.

“The initiative to limit, manage and control the internet use among the young is highly commendable.

"With guidance and appropriate learning tools from family and society, children will learn about proper norms of the society,” he said when contacted recently.

He also warned of extreme cases where children may develop internet addiction, necessitating serious therapeutic interventions.

Adnan said that as children grow, they naturally explore out into the world to discover and define themselves, but they still require guidance along the way rather than complete reliance on others.

He stressed that denying such learning opportunities to know and manage self, privacy and autonomy is greatly reprehensible and unacceptable.

“Why do parents use social media – for work, learning, entertainment, social connection?

“It is true that social media do present unlimited opportunities to do a lot of things for us, but it becomes a threat or red flag if we begin neglecting our main responsibilities to care for our children," he said.

He said one of the most important components of raising children is to have an open communication.

The same thing applies to a gradual exposure of the internet to children.

Open Communication and Responsible Parenting

Adnan also challenged parents to reflect on their own social media use, questioning if it neglects their parental responsibilities.

"Open communication is crucial. Children should feel comfortable discussing any topic, including social media, with their parents," he added.

Adnan said the role of institutions like schools and families in providing frameworks and guidance to help children become productive members of society.

He stressed the need for parents to be aware of their own online habits, addressing potential internet addiction in themselves.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has recently reminded parents to ensure that their children under 13 do not own any social media accounts.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this was because the commission found that it was not appropriate for children under 13 to use any social media.

Fahmi said social media platforms currently leave account registration to users fully without any way of proving their age met the necessary requirements and his ministry has held a series of meetings with relevant parties, including Meta - owner of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp - and Telegram, to present their plans to tackle the ownership of social media accounts among children under 13.