The rapid growth in technological advancement calls for a greater need to upgrade parenting skills for the digital generation.

As parents in this digital age, we are always looking for ways to educate our children on online safety. While the internet is a great place for kids to learn and play, your child may face challenges online that can affect them negatively. For instance, befriending someone who has a fake profile, becoming a target for cyberbullying, unable to manage their digital reputation, trusting false information, and oversharing personal information.

Unhealthy Contents
As well as providing positive and beneficial content, the Internet also contains inappropriate contents that can upset and mislead children into unlawful or dangerous behaviour. Educate them about:

• types of content they would encounter online
• browsing through child-friendly websites and apps
• sites that have age limit to protect them from unsuitable content and harm
• reporting to a trusted adult if they receive unwanted content from other users or websites

Sexting
It commonly includes obscene content that is sexual in nature including nudity and underwear shot photos or videos. Your child may unknowingly fall victim to a sexual predator. Remind your children of the following:

• Do not share sexual shots of themselves with anyone as they are not in control of what happens to it afterwards.
• Do not allow anyone to guilt-trip or pressure them into sending a sex text.
• If an indecent or nude photo of them is posted online, ask the admin to remove it or report the incident to MCMC at aduanskmm.gov.my.
• Block anyone who tries to send your child inappropriate messages.

Online Grooming
Online grooming is defined as an emotional connection established with a child or young person for the purpose of sexual abuse and exploitation. It can come from a stranger or someone known to the child, such as a family member, a friend or an adult who has regular contact with the child. Teach your children to never share sexual images or videos of themselves with anyone.

Common actions taken by a child predator:

• Sends lots of messages on various online platforms.
• Gains the child’s trust by pretending to have the same interest or issues.
• Profiles the child to understand who uses their devices or the location of their room.
• Asks to keep conversations a special secret between the predator and the child.
• Starts sending sexual messages that appear subtle, such as compliments of facial or body appearances, and graduating to asking questions in relation to sexual experiences.
• Blackmail or guilt tripping the child into sending sexual images or videos of themselves. The predator will then threaten to post these videos or images online unless the child provides them with more.

What to do if you think your child is being groomed:

• Keep calm. Comfort your child, tell them that they have not done anything wrong and it is the predator's fault.
• Ask the person to stop. The child can tell the groomer they are uncomfortable with sending sexual images or videos of themselves and what they are asking from the child is illegal.
• Report it. Tell your child that they can report to you or trusted adults any behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Sexual Offences Against Children

• The Government of Malaysia has passed The Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 (Act 792) aimed at protecting children from sexual crimes, including those committed online. Learn More