While digital networking platforms are not inherently harmful, users’ inability to manage their time and activity on these platforms can often lead to psychological stress, emotional disturbances, and challenges in communication and social relationships.

So says SEGi University child psychologist Dr Mariani Md Nor, who shared that interactions between children and their environment can influence their development and growth processes. As such, she said, any information or knowledge from the environment can shape a child’s mind and personality.

“Influence comes not only from real life but also from cyberspace, including social media, which serves as a platform for children to gain knowledge and skills, and emulate the behaviours of their role models,” Mariani told Bernama.

“Hence, there should be monitoring of the websites they visit or read and the language they use in online conversations. Whatever they see, hear and read, especially in the form of words or screenplay such as cartoons, will to some extent shape their thinking and become something they would indirectly follow.”

Mariani, who is also the president of the Early Childhood Care and Education Council Malaysia, explained that an individual’s developmental process begins at birth and goes on until adulthood. However, different experiences lead to variations in emotional and mental development, which in turn result in differences in psychological development.

She said children below age six are at a critical stage of their lives: during this time, they can be easily influenced, shaped and nurtured because they are particularly receptive to all types of information presented to them.

“If social media is constantly by the side of children in that age group, then their parents are to be blamed if platforms like YouTube and TikTok become like surrogates or teachers to their kids,” she said.

Commenting on reports that issues such as stress, mental health problems, running away from home, and even self-harm or suicide attempts among children are often linked to the influence of the internet and social media, Mariani explained these negative behaviours are often influenced by the “narratives” presented on these platforms.

These so-called “cyber narratives” can lead children to act without considering the consequences, especially given their age and immaturity.

“Here, ‘narratives’ refers to the tendency to emulate behaviours seen on social media. If they don’t get the expected outcomes, it can lead to disappointment. Without relevant guidance, education and advice, children may take shortcuts to resolve their issues, sometimes in unhealthy ways.”

Acknowledging that social media is a necessity today, she said its use should be controlled to prevent addiction. “It’s important to regulate children’s screen time and online interactions. All content accessed by children, especially under the age of seven, should be monitored by their parents.

“Content accessed by children should ideally focus on educational or developmental games to support their growth,” she added.

Mariani went on to say that due to overreliance on technology, young generations tend to be impatient and struggle to handle complex problems, often turning to the internet for solutions without considering other alternatives.

Of language and online interaction

Meanwhile, Universiti Multimedia Malaysia language lecturer Maswanhizzly Masri said in today’s digital world, social media significantly shapes how children communicate and the language they use.

He said harsh language, insults and toxic behaviours in social media interactions, combined with demeaning or mocking comments, can influence the language children use daily.

“The use of slang and abbreviations, and following Gen-Z trends, is also a challenge. While abbreviated words might facilitate communication, they can also erode a person’s formal language skills and undermine the purity and originality of the language itself,” he said.

Maswanhizzly believes that language degradation can affect the sociocultural development of society in this country, with one risk being the potential loss of the identity of the national language.

“For example, the dominance of English or the uncontrolled mixing of languages (bahasa rojak) can undermine the use of Bahasa Melayu. When children gravitate more towards using English or bahasa rojak, it can impact their proficiency in Malay, especially in formal contexts.

“This weakens the resilience of the national language among the younger generation, which could ultimately impact the country’s cultural and social identity,” he said.

Maswanhizzly further noted that parents should be concerned if their children start using harsh words, insulting others or behaving disrespectfully based on what they learn from social media.

Sharing the findings of a 2019 study carried out by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Maswanhizzly highlighted that there is a notable difference between the language used on social media and users’ daily spoken language.

The study also found that 2,220 obscene words were used by 120 teenagers and women on Facebook posts – netizens from different racial backgrounds in Malaysia.

“Studies also revealed that over 70% of Malaysian teenagers use social media, with many reports indicating a tendency to use harsh language in online conversations, particularly in more informal spaces like WhatsApp or Facebook.”

Ultimately, Maswanhizzly believes digital platforms such as YouTube should be used for educational purposes, including the development of language skills, and not just for entertainment.

“However, without assistance, monitoring and cooperation from parents, children are more likely to choose inappropriate content,” he concluded.