PAGE chief Noor Azimah Rahim said that it is understandable for students to use these devices because they need such technology to help them, but there should be time limits and a schedule on when they could use such devices.
“There needs to be some kind of control and parents must monitor their children and their use of such devices.
“Parents must set time limts and these students must abide by the arrangement agreed upon,” she told FMT, adding that it will only become a problem when children disregard the rules set.
According to Noor Azimah, she is aware that some parents limit their children’s use of online devices on weekdays and suggested a similar arrangement on weekends too.
She was responding to a survey which revealed that only 24% of parents check on their children’s use of online devices and other gadgets. The survey was based on parents with children aged between three and 17.
According to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim, nearly 80% of parents were found to have allowed their children to own and use online devices.
However, only 15.1% of them prohibited the use of such devices if their children had committed an offence.
The statement also added that only 48% of parents limited their children’s time spent on such devices and 3.7% did not monitor their usage.
FMT spoke to some parents on how they deal with the issue of their children using online devices.
Nuraida Hassan, 40, is a mother of four and says she allows three of her children who are in school to use their online devices freely.
She said she had bought each one of them their own online device as she understood that they have to access the internet to get information and sometimes to work on their homework.
However, she admitted that she does not constantly monitor their activities.
“I believe my children are responsible and know how to handle themselves when it comes to the use of such devices,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zahila Hisyam, 35, is active when it comes to monitoring her children’s activities especially on the usage of online devices.
She would normally go through their tablets to see the applications downloaded, and to check if it is suitable for them.
“I would also check the WhatsApp groups with the classmates. Because sometimes they tend to share inappropriate links.
“I am very much concerned about their activities,” Zahila said.
Similarly, Harith Omar Hassan, is strict when it comes to monitoring his children’s activities online.
According to him, there is a high chance of children seeing inappropriate stuff on the internet without their parents knowing about it.