Keeping tabs on kids made easy

Easing stress: The MCMC’s new code of conduct requires Internet messaging and social media service providers to implement tools for parents to monitor and manage their children’s online activities. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Overwhelmed and exhausted by their children’s online antics, many parents are relieved by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) unveiling of a new code of conduct that will allow them to have control over screen time.

These parents, who already use apps to limit their children’s screen time and monitor activities online, see this as an extra layer of protection.

S. John, a self-employed father, said the first thing his 10-year-old son will do when he comes home from school is to pick up the phone and spend at least two hours on it.

“He wastes a lot of time on it instead of focusing on other activities. He was doing average in school and now he is getting worse,” said the father of four from Ipoh.

John said it has been challenging trying to restrict his son’s usage by confiscating the phone, adding that he is also worried about the effect of excessive use on his youngest son’s eyesight.

“I am quite worried that he may start having blurry vision at a young age,” he said, lauding the MCMC’s move.

“I believe the new measure may grant parents better control over our kids’ phone usage.

“Over time, with restrictions, my son might lose interest in his phone and start engaging in healthier activities like sports.”

Among others, the code of conduct (best practice) for Internet messaging and social media service providers requires these platforms to implement tools for parents to monitor and manage their children’s online activities.

These tools must include options to limit screen time and block harmful or age-inappropriate content.

All tools and settings must also be clear, user-friendly and easily accessible, with regular updates to ensure effectiveness in an ever-changing digital landscape.

A personal assistant, who wanted to be known only as Ashley, also hopes that the new parental controls feature could help reduce her children’s phone usage.

“Given the pressure from work, financial challenges and daily time constraints, it’s really easier said than done (when it comes to control),” said the 40-year-old, whose husband also works.

Even for parents who have been controlling and monitoring their children’s phone usage, they remain concerned about exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, explicit advertisements and the risk of interactions with strangers or predators.

Besides using parental controls to limit screen time, business owner Mikail Sani, 38, also regularly checks the browsing history and talks with his nine-year-old daughter about the dangers of the online world.

His greatest concern is the risk of her encountering harmful or inappropriate content or being targeted by strangers or predators through social media and online games.

“I feel like these measures (by the MCMC) give us more tools to protect our kids. It’s a relief to know the government is taking this issue seriously,” he said.

Similarly, Maisara Ismail, a 42-year-old civil servant with two young children, relies on parental control apps that link her children’s devices to her phone and email, allowing her to monitor their online activities.

Her concerns go beyond inappropriate content – she pointed to the unfiltered nature of advertisements that expose children to violence, sexuality and unhealthy cultural elements.

“It will make them more aware of the boundaries we’ve set and encourage them to be more responsible. These measures can help reduce screen addiction and guide children toward content that builds positive character and values,” she added.

Writer Nur Daiyan, 34, who limits her children’s usage to only weekends and for one to two hours at a time, recalled instances when they had accessed explicit content despite using safe search features.

“There were some videos depicting animated characters engaging in obscene acts. Despite blocking them, similar content continues popping up,” she said.

Echoing these concerns, IT executive Rafiqha Mustaffa, 32, said features allowing better control over screen time will further enhance parental control.

“Even on child versions of various video-sharing platforms, there is soft porn content, albeit in cartoonish formats. The same goes for horror and gore,” said the mother of two.

Housewife Daisy Lim, who has laid out a list of dos and don’ts for her six-year-old son, acknowledges the challenges of managing screen time.

“As a parent, it can be overwhelming to constantly monitor how much time our child spends online. Even when devices are taken away, they can find a way to take it back and use it in secret.

“Getting them offline can be like a tug of war, which usually ends up with a time-out punishment or the device being locked away,” she said.

In JOHOR BARU, parents like Azizul Syazwan Mohd Jamil, 44, and Darren Lai Chai En, 34, also use apps to limit screen time and monitor their children’s online activities.

“My youngest daughter loves watching videos on TikTok and playing online games. However, we are able to limit her time through an app that my wife downloaded on her mobile phone,” said Azizul Syazwan.

Rifhan Zainuddin, 34, ensures that her seven-year-old son has limited screen time by only allowing him access to social media during weekends and under close supervision.

“We occupy his time with classes and tuition, and by bringing him out to watch movies or to the parks and playgrounds and even on visits to our relatives,” she added.

In KOTA KINABALU, parents like Martha Martin prefer to install child-friendly apps like YouTube Kids to limit exposure.

She feels that with the regulations set by the MCMC, parents can feel safer and more at ease with their children surfing the Internet.

Denise Benedict, 38, a homemaker from Tamparuli, said the new measures by the MCMC or any restrictions imposed by parents are never about demonising technology but rather to teach their children moderation.

“Because by taking the lead and creating a screen-friendly and balanced environment, you’re setting your children up for success and a healthy experience in the digital world,” she said.

In MELAKA, Iqmal Haqim Rusman, 37, considers himself “old school” when it comes to limiting the screen time for his 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son.

“I want them to be more active in outdoor activities and help their parents with household chores.

“My wife and I have implemented a strategy to control our children’s social media habits by barring them from having any such accounts,” said Iqmal Haqim, who only allows them online access via his mobile phone during weekends and even then before 9pm. - Star