The recent tragedies that have unfolded in our schools, including the shocking gang-rape cases at several secondary schools and the murder of a student in Bandar Utama have shaken the nation to its core.

These incidents are not just isolated crimes; they are a collective wake-up call on the fragility of empathy, values, and our shared responsibility in protecting children within an increasingly digital and disconnected world.

Today’s children, the so-called Generation Z and Generation Alpha are growing up in a borderless ecosystem where learning, socialising, and entertainment all converge on a single handheld screen. In the rush to meet work demands and life pressures, many parents have, often unintentionally, delegated their nurturing roles to digital devices and online spaces.

Yet, no technology can replace the warmth, empathy, and moral guidance that only human connection can provide. It is time to move beyond blame and act collectively to build a digital generation shield together.

Family: The first line of defence

Parents are the primary educators and the first line of defence in shaping a child’s emotional and physical well-being. Open, judgment-free communication remains the cornerstone of trust. Children who feel heard are more likely to share their struggles, from cyberbullying and anxiety to abuse. Simple practices, like having daily “screen-free” family time during dinner, can create safe spaces for meaningful conversations.

Parents should also make use of parental control tools to monitor online activity responsibly, guiding rather than spying. Conversations around sexual awareness, not sex education per se, but understanding bodily autonomy and personal boundaries should start early, framed with empathy and cultural sensitivity. Asking open questions such as, “What did you learn online today?” can often reveal much more than a reprimand ever could.

Schools: Safe zones for every student

Schools play a crucial role as safe zones where character and empathy are nurtured. Administrators and teachers must ensure that no child feels unsafe, unseen, or silenced. The Ministry of Education’s Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) programme should be strengthened and made more practical, with the involvement of trained counsellors, psychologists and advocacy groups such as the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) and PS The Children.

Schools can also establish “safe corners” where students can talk to counsellors without fear of stigma or exposure. Scenario-based learning can be used to teach empathy, self-protection and healthy communication. Teachers, too, must receive consistent training to handle sensitive topics with care, while schools should enforce confidential reporting systems to ensure every student’s voice is taken seriously.

Communities: The collective guardians

The responsibility to protect children cannot rest solely on families and schools. Communities are essential as the extended safety net. Residents’ associations, local youth clubs and Rukun Tetangga committees can create space for positive engagement through sports, arts, volunteerism activity, and creative expression.

Public awareness campaigns such as Stop Child Abuse or Say No to Cyberbullying can be amplified through mosques, churches, temples, and community halls, uniting diverse groups around a shared cause.

When suspicious behaviour or signs of abuse are observed, swift reporting to authorities such as the Social Welfare Department (JKM) or Talian Kasih 15999 is not interference – it is a civic duty. A caring community builds a safety ecosystem that extends far beyond household walls.

Social media, digital literacy, and fact-checking: The new layer of protection

Most importantly, social media plays a transformative role in shaping identity and behaviour. Communication scholars like Marshall McLuhan remind us that technology itself becomes an environment and media ecology that shapes how we think, feel and relate.

In the same vein, recent headlines have shared the notions to restrict social media use to youths under the age of 13 due to the recent incidents, reiterating how social learning happens when children mimic behaviours they observe online and leading to moral decline.

Parents, educators, and the wider community can connect more meaningfully with children by recognising the factors behind these limitations and helping them interpret what they see with understanding and empathy.

The recent circulation of graphic photos and insensitive posts related to the earlier mentioned rape cases and the murder of a student revealed the darker side of our digital culture. Beyond the sensationalism, such actions inflict secondary trauma on the victim’s family, classmates and the wider public, especially children exposed to violent or distressing content without context or guidance.

This serves as a wake-up call for parents, teachers, and communities to foster greater responsibility in how we consume and share content online. Verification is no longer just a journalistic duty – it is a shared moral obligation.

Ethical sharing safeguards not only the dignity of victims but also the emotional well-being of young audiences still learning empathy and truth in a hyperconnected world. In an age flooded with misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, digital safety is now as essential as physical safety.

Parents, teachers, and young people must be equipped with the skills to navigate online spaces with critical awareness and responsibility, recognising the risks of cyberbullying, data manipulation, and persistent privacy threats.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), through its Klik Dengan Bijak campaign, provides practical cyber safety education and digital literacy workshops. Equally important is progressively nurturing the culture of fact-checking before sharing information.

Trusted Malaysian platforms such as JomCheck Malaysia, Sebenarnya.my, MyCheck Malaysia and many more are easily available online and they play an essential role in countering manipulative news and suspicious online information.

Using these platforms to combat unverified information and to encourage young people to verify and question content builds digital citizens who are not only informed but also ethical and resilient among their peers.

Collective action for our children’s future

Technology can connect us, but it can never replace human compassion. Children need our presence, not only physical, but also emotional and moral. To nurture a generation that is both resilient and empathetic, we must strengthen the support system that links home, school, and the digital world.

Protecting our children’s safety and well-being is a shared duty. With empathy and collective effort, we can strengthen the digital shield that protects, empowers, and prepares the next generation to thrive safely and confidently in a borderless world.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Nurzihan Hassim is a member of the Malaysian Association of Communication Educators (MACE), and a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Media and Communication Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor. She also serves as a data analyst for JomCheck Malaysia under The Media Initiative.