Cyberbullying on the rise among children, teens

The Star

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: About four years ago, Malaysian Internet users made headlines around the world for their bold stance against Israel, most notably through the hashtag #IsraelKoyak.
Nicknamed the "Bawang Army" or "Bawang Rangers", they not only circulated posters condemning the Zionist regime following bombings in Palestine but also flooded the social media pages of the Israeli Defence Forces, earning praise from the global community.
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However, behind this display of bravery and unity lies a darker side of Malaysian internet users — those who have used social media platforms to bully others, a trend that has become increasingly concerning.
Their targets have not been just ordinary individuals or local celebrities but international athletes as well. Among them was Japanese cyclist Shinji Nakano, who was bombarded with abusive comments after being accused of deliberately causing Malaysian cyclist Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom to miss out on a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What was alarming was that this toxic behaviour appeared to be "infecting" children and adolescents in the country. This group of young and inexperienced social media users has not only targeted their peers but has also brazenly bullied older persons. No compassion
Often under the guise of joking, these taunts were hurled without compassion or empathy for the feelings of those on the receiving end. These youths rarely considered the consequences their actions could have on others or themselves.
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"My friends made fun of my photo on TikTok. They commented on my skin, saying I looked as dark as charcoal. I felt so ashamed," said Saffiya (not her real name), a 12-year-old pupil.
She said the incident, which happened last year, shattered her self-confidence. It left her feeling depressed, unwilling to go to school, distancing herself from friends, fearful of using her phone and frequently crying when alone.
Thankfully, she had parents and teachers who were attentive to the changes in her behaviour. She was taken to see a counsellor, while the bullies were given a stern warning.
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"Even though we're just kids, we can still get hurt. Don't think body shaming is a joke," she said. Malaysia ranks second in Asia
According to a report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Malaysia ranked second in Asia for cyberbullying among youths, behind China. On a global scale, the country was ranked fifth after Peru, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, reflecting the seriousness of the issue in Malaysia.
A study conducted last year by global market research and consulting firm Ipsos revealed that nearly 47% of parents knew at least one child in their community who had been a victim of cyberbullying. One in four parents believed their child had experienced online bullying.
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The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reported receiving 8,339 complaints related to cyberbullying — an average of 27 cases per day — between January and Nov 1 last year.
These statistics underscored the urgent need for a safer online ecosystem for social media users.
Acknowledging this need, the Malaysian government announced in November last year that it was studying the feasibility of introducing an Anti-Cyberbullying Act to curb such activities. Deep impact
Commenting on the issue, Dr Mohd Nazir Mohd Nazori, a senior lecturer at the Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, said bullying is an act done repeatedly with the intention of instilling fear, anger or sadness in the victim.
"Cyberbullying is more dangerous because the use of digital technology allows embarrassing information or images to spread widely and remain online indefinitely," he said.
He added that among the factors that lead teenagers to become bullies were peer pressure and a desire to fit in with like-minded groups.
"Many of their actions are driven by group conformity… they just follow what the group is doing and rarely use their own judgment to assess whether what they're doing is right or wrong," he said.
According to the health education expert, bullies often presented a different persona in front of their parents compared to when they engaged in cyberbullying. Signs of victimisation
Mohd Nazir said signs a child might be experiencing cyberbullying include a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, a tendency to keep to themselves, looking gloomy and showing fear whenever they hear the sound of phone notifications.
He also warned that without intervention from parents or guardians, victims of bullying were at risk of developing mental health issues.
He believes that to combat cyberbullying, merely limiting children's Internet access is not enough.
"We have to educate them first," he said, adding, "We need to teach our children what their (smart) devices are for. For example, if a child enjoys drawing, parents should help them choose appropriate apps and review their work weekly."
He is also of the view that children should not have social media accounts as they lack the maturity to give informed consent and are vulnerable to digital dangers such as privacy breaches and interaction with strangers.
Sharing the same view, Dr Zulfikar Ahmad, senior psychology officer at the Psychological and Counselling Services Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, believes that smartphones should only be given to a child based on his or her maturity level.
He said parents should not justify giving smartphones to their children solely for safety or educational purposes.
"If we don't even know what our children are doing with these devices, who they are interacting with... we are actually exposing them to all kinds of risks, not just cyberbullying," he said, advising parents to be more alert to behavioural changes in their children who are using smartphones. Stricter penalties
On July 11, the government enforced amendments to the Penal Code (Amendment) 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) 2025 aimed at strengthening efforts to combat cyberbullying. The amendments also introduced new sections, namely Sections 507B to 507G, which allow for faster and stricter action against those who break the law.
Section 507D(2), for example, provides for penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine for offences involving threatening, insulting or abusive communication that leads to suicide attempts due to provocation.
Commenting on these amendments, Dr Mohd Nazir said enforcement should also come in the form of advocacy and education so that people understand why such behaviour is wrong and are made aware of the consequences of their actions on the victims.
Zulfikar, meanwhile, suggested that if the cyberbully is a minor or still in school, punishment should take the form of community service, such as cleaning houses of worship or participating in community activities under the supervision of the local community.
"They need to be taught the meaning of responsibility... not punished to the point where they see themselves as bad people. The punishment should educate them so that they think twice before repeating the behaviour," he said. – Bernama