KUCHING: The Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) has welcomed the government’s move to implement electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification to restrict social media access for children under 13, saying it is a crucial step in curbing delinquent behaviour among youths.
STU President Kullin Djayang said the initiative is timely, as the nation has witnessed worrying trends involving students, including cases of peer murder, rape, fights, and addiction to gaming and pornography all stemming from social media influence.
“Such drastic measures can save more young people from falling deeper into negative behaviour. However, setting the age limit at 13 alone is insufficient. Our society needs a more comprehensive and relevant approach,” Kullin said in a press release on Thursday.
He proposed several additional steps, including introducing a tiered age restriction system for social media usage, to prevent youths from misusing the platforms or spreading inappropriate content.
Kullin also suggested that the government regulate the minimum age for gadget ownership, and that parents be given strict reminders to comply, as education and supervision begin at home.
He emphasised that gadget usage time should be limited, with consistent government monitoring of social media activity. Parents could also be held accountable if their children are found to exceed allowed usage time or post immoral content online.
Kullin further called for digital literacy education to be incorporated into the school curriculum, covering responsible social media use and the dangers of online misuse.
“Awareness programmes should also be conducted for parents, community leaders, and school staff to help them recognise early signs of children being negatively influenced by social media.
“While gadgets are valuable tools that provide easy access to information in this era of science and technology, they must be controlled to prevent them from becoming a threat to the next generation,” he added.
“Such drastic measures can save more young people from falling deeper into negative behaviour. However, setting the age limit at 13 alone is insufficient. Our society needs a more comprehensive and relevant approach,” Kullin said in a press release on Thursday.
He proposed several additional steps, including introducing a tiered age restriction system for social media usage, to prevent youths from misusing the platforms or spreading inappropriate content.
Kullin also suggested that the government regulate the minimum age for gadget ownership, and that parents be given strict reminders to comply, as education and supervision begin at home.
He emphasised that gadget usage time should be limited, with consistent government monitoring of social media activity. Parents could also be held accountable if their children are found to exceed allowed usage time or post immoral content online.
Kullin further called for digital literacy education to be incorporated into the school curriculum, covering responsible social media use and the dangers of online misuse.
“Awareness programmes should also be conducted for parents, community leaders, and school staff to help them recognise early signs of children being negatively influenced by social media.
“While gadgets are valuable tools that provide easy access to information in this era of science and technology, they must be controlled to prevent them from becoming a threat to the next generation,” he added.