2 days ago
Helping kids surf smart
The Internet can be an amazing place for children. It opens up new ways to learn, connect and express themselves.
It helps them discover their interests, make friends and even have a say in the world.
But alongside the possibilities, come real risks.
For many parents, the breakneck pace of technology, on top of the expectations of modern parenting can feel overwhelming: New apps, new threats, new questions every other day.
So how do we raise safe, resilient kids in a digital world we're still trying to understand?
Here are some tips to guide and support children online. And if you ever feel stuck, try ParentText, Unicef's free parenting chatbot with bite-sized advice (in Bahasa Malaysia and English). 1. Sharenting is fun... until it's oversharing.
As a parent or caregiver, you need to be the person to talk to your child in ways they can understand, so they can learn how to spot red flags and stay safe online. Photo: Freepik
We get it. Your kid is adorable. But before you share that photo just for fun or entertainment, please think twice.
That bath time photo or first day of school photo may be cute, but oversharing makes children vulnerable to exploitation.
A screenshot, a download and your kid may be forever in a paedophile's database.
Pro tip: Use privacy settings on your channels and devices, avoid location tags and save special moments for the family chat. 2. Be their person. They need you when things get tough.
In Malaysia, one in 25 children has experienced some kind of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Yet, only every second child say they told someone about it. Kids need adults they can turn to for questions and when things feel wrong.
If they don't get that support from you, they may turn elsewhere, including less safe corners of the Internet. That's where predators come in. They build trust through grooming, a dangerous manipulation that often works because it feels like friendship or love.
As a parent or caregiver, you need to be the person to talk to your child in ways they can understand, so that they can learn how to spot red flags and stay safe online. 3. You won't beat the Internet, so don't even try.
For many parents, the breakneck speed of technology, on top of the expectations of parenting, can feel overwhelming. Photo: Freepik
Keeping up with every app, trend or the latest technology is impossible.
Parental controls and safety tools help, but they're not foolproof. What you can do is raise a child who knows how to think critically, set boundaries and ask for help.
Help them build digital habits that keep them safe online. If your child is old enough to go online, they are old enough to have a conversation about how to do it safely and responsibly.
Technology can do many things, but it cannot replace your role. Protect your child's digital footprint like you would in real life. 4. Avoid doomscrolling – your brain (and theirs) need a break.
These are distressing times, where conflicts and disasters are being livestreamed to our phones.
Children see more than we think, and you may be feeling overwhelmed too.
Here's what we can all do: let's model healthy habits like talking about difficult emotions together, looking for positive stories of hope and limiting our screen time. The most protective thing you can do is close the app and go for a walk. 5. Take care of yourself.
Parenting is one of the most important and overlooked jobs.
It is a job because it requires energy, skill and emotional labour every single day. And like any demanding role, you need rest and support to keep going. Remember the advice from flight safety briefings: put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others.
You can only care for others when you've cared for yourself.
So take a pause, take a deep breath and treat yourself. You have come a long way despite the challenges. Sometimes it's okay to put yourself first. 6. It takes a (digital) village.
Saw says protecting children online requires shared responsibility, stronger systems and support at every level. Photo: Unicef Malaysia
Creating a safe online environment for children is a collective effort. While we can do our part, it's not all on you.
Protecting children online requires shared responsibility, stronger systems and support at every level.
That's why organisations like Unicef, alongside other stakeholders, continue to advocate for stronger protections, policies, and accountability from tech companies and regulators, while also supporting parents and caregivers on the ground.
Being a parent in the digital age isn't easy. But with compassion, conversation, and small daily actions, it is possible.
Not sure how to start those tough conversations?
If the worst has happened – you are not alone. Support is out there for both you and your child.
Reach out to professionals, counsellors, or these helplines: Talian Kasih: 15999, WCC Penang: 011-31084001 (SMS or WhatsApp), WAO: 018-9888058 (SMS or WhatsApp TINA), Buddybear: 1800-18-2327, Talian HEAL: 15555, Befrienders: 03-76272929 and Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA): 03-27806803/ 017-613 3039.
Terry Saw is Unicef Malaysia's parenting lead and a father of two. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
