A recent parliamentary briefing revealed that 55.7 per cent of children in Malaysia spent between one and four hours online each day last year, with 60.7 per cent of these young users owning their own devices, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Yeo Bee Yin, chairman of the Special Select Committee on Women, Children, and Community Development, shared the findings during a session on Digital Safety and Mental Health of Children. The data was compiled from engagement sessions held with multiple agencies, including the Home Ministry, Health Ministry, Social Welfare Department, MCMC, and Suhakam, between October 30 and November 13.
“The internet is a double-edged sword, offering great benefits but also potential harm,” Yeo said, highlighting concerns about excessive internet use among children.
Among the worrying effects identified were Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), social anxiety disorder, addiction, and involvement in sexual misconduct. A study of 5,290 adolescents across seven states found that approximately 3.5 per cent of children—around 315,000—meet the criteria for IGD, which involves persistent gaming leading to social withdrawal and loss of interest in other activities.
Yeo added that adolescents with IGD often experience severe mental health issues: 48.1 per cent suffer from severe anxiety, 37.4 per cent from severe depression, and 18.2 per cent from severe stress.
On sexual offences, she noted that nearly half of the cases involve children, with 68.1 per cent of these being consensual cases where both parties are under 16. “Only the male is prosecuted under statutory rape laws, as defined in Sections 375 and 376 of the Penal Code,” she said.
The committee also found that early exposure to pornography, social media, and digital sexual content influenced almost 90 per cent of adolescents engaging in repeated sexual activity. About 30 per cent of sexual offence cases involving children in Sekolah Tunas Bakti and Asrama Akhlak were linked to uncontrolled gadget usage.
Yeo called for greater awareness, parental supervision, and regulatory measures to protect children from the growing digital risks.
