SAFER INTERNET CAMPAIGN: A SHIELD PROTECTING YOUNG USERS FROM CYBER THREATS - EXPERT

By R.Vikneswaran

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The Safer Internet Campaign 1.0 has achieved a significant impact by providing foundational knowledge to protect young users from online risks, reflecting the Government's ongoing commitment to building a safer cyber environment for all.

Media Research and Digital Media Socialisation expert Assoc. Prof. Dr Shafizan Mohamed said that the campaign - which involved over 8,000 schools and nearly 370,000 students as of November 30 last year - successfully brought internet safety issues to public attention and provided essential exposure to risks such as cyberbullying. 

“In terms of coverage, this campaign reached its target as information was widely disseminated. However, it was primarily awareness-based. Efforts are now needed to measure its effectiveness regarding actual behavioral changes,” she told Bernama.

The lecturer from the Department of Communication at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) added that understanding the level of information retention among students is crucial so that it can be translated into safe and consistent daily practices, especially within the context of internet use at home with family.

Commenting on improvements for the upcoming Safer Internet Campaign 2.0, Shafizan suggested shifting from a purely awareness-based approach to capacity building and practical, application-based skills, rather than relying solely on posters, slogans, or lectures. 

Content should utilise popular digital platforms like Tik Tok, WhatsApp, and Instagram to deliver messages that are contextual and relatable to users' realities.

Messaging should not be fear-based; instead, it should provide practical guidance on protective steps users can take online while attention must be given to the digital literacy gap between parents and children, the normalization of risks like scams and hate speech, and the growing need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy.

Shafizan emphasised that internet safety is not the sole responsibility of children and teenagers, but requires collective support by equipping parents with practical skills and involving teachers, communities, leaders, and media practitioners.

Meanwhile, parent Rosalynd Low, a mother of two children aged 16 and 13, argued that while no internet is truly "safe" - especially with the advancement of AI - a relatively safe internet can prevent scams, cyberbullying, and access to negative content such as violence, drugs, and pornography.

“I monitor what they’re doing on gaming sites like Roblox, but most importantly is the communication. We talk about the latest trends, news, scams and risks, while they also tell us about content that they watch and we educate them on how many types of content are staged, fake, and AI.

“One way (to use internet safely) is to verify the news, if it’s reported by major news portals it means there’s some truth to it, but of course even news on major portals need to be taken with a pinch of salt - senationalisation, framing etc are all part of news reporting and should be taken into consideration,” katanya. 

Low said her youngest is not allowed social media accounts, while her eldest's Instagram and TikTok accounts are closely monitored.

"We talk about the latest trends, news, scams, and risks... we educate them on how many types of content are staged, fake, and AI-generated."

She teaches her children to verify news through major portals while remaining critical of sensationalism and framing.

On December 16, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that the Ministry, via the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission(MCMC), will intensify Campaign 2.0 this year to strengthen online safety for children and families.

As of December, Campaign 1.0 reached nearly 8,500 schools - surpassing the initial target of 8,000 - with over 400,000 participants.

Furthermore, MCMC has announced that the 2026 Safer Internet Day celebration will be held on February 8 at Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, focusing on promoting the safe, responsible, and ethical use of the internet and AI.

--BERNAMA