| Abstract |
Since the country was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic, the new normal has led to increased reliance across all layers of society on devices and the internet for various daily activities such as work, learning, shopping, banking, entertainment, and various other matters. The Internet User Survey (IUS) 2020 by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) found:
i. Internet users in Malaysia increased to 88.7% in 2020 compared to 87.4% in 2018; and
ii. 50% of internet users spent 5 to 12 hours per day surfing the internet in 2020.
In addition to various potential threats that could target children in the cyber world, the IUS 2020 report found that the level of awareness among parents regarding cyber safety is decreasing. The findings of the report indicate:
i. The level of parental control awareness regarding children's internet usage declined from 62.4% in 2018 to 53.3% in 2020;
ii. 62.5% of parents do not use safety control software for the devices used by their children because they are unaware of such applications; and
iii. On average, parents are unable to specify in detail the safety measures needed to protect their children in the cyber world.
Furthermore, Cyber Security Malaysia's Study on the Standard of Cyber Safety Awareness Among School Students and Parents 2021-2022 revealed that the increase in online activities has led to an increased risk of cyber safety for students. According to the report, internet addiction, lack of digital citizenship awareness, and less effective parental control have contributed to increased cyber safety risks for the younger generation.
Recognizing that digital parenting issues indeed pose challenges and pressures on today's parenting duties, LPPKN has taken the initiative to develop the Digital Parenting KASIH Program using the allocation from the Covid-19 Fund (KWC-19) under the Mental Health Advocacy Initiative of the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development in 2022. This program aims to empower parents with the knowledge and skills needed to manage the challenges of children in the current digital generation.
The main objectives of the Digital Parenting KASIH Program are:
i. To instill positive values and ethics in the cyber realm;
ii. To enhance parents' understanding of digital challenges; and
iii. To improve parent’s skills in monitoring children’s usage of digital applications. |
