Latest news with #cyberbullying
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Putting ‘x' in toxic: Fahmi slams social media giants X, Meta for not doing enough to curb cyberbullying, scams
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today took social media platforms Meta and X to task, for what he described as their indifference towards combating scams and cyberbullying in Malaysia. Reflecting on the tragic death of social media influencer Rajeswary Appahu, also known as Esha, following online harassment last year, Fahmi said many platforms had yet to implement robust measures to curb cyberbullying, even as the government had bolstered existing legislation. 'The laws are mostly in place,' Fahmi said, after launching the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star here today. He was referring to the passage of two Penal Code amendments addressing cyberbullying in Parliament last year. Fahmi added that the Online Safety Act is set to come into effect soon, and it will be accompanied by the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council in the middle of this month, providing a platform to discuss related concerns. 'But, are social media platforms working hard enough to make sure that online harms are addressed more comprehensively? I do not think so,' he said. 'X really puts the 'X' in toxic. It is an extremely toxic environment.' The Suicide Content Guidelines, spearheaded by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF), represent Malaysia's first comprehensive framework for ethical reporting on suicide cases. The guidelines stress the importance of using appropriate language, censoring graphic images, and avoiding sensational headlines when reporting on suicide incidents. They also introduce the concept of the Papageno effect, which highlights how responsible media reporting on suicidal crises can help prevent further suicides. Fahmi said the CMCF would represent Malaysia in presenting the guidelines — considered among the first of their kind globally — at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025 in Vienna, Austria this month. He said ethical reporting on suicides was an act of compassion for the bereaved families and crucial to preventing copycat incidents. Fahmi also urged vernacular media outlets to produce more content on suicidal crisis management, noting that such resources are currently available largely in English.
Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Fahmi says Meta, X not doing enough to curb online harm
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil and CMCF chairman Rafiq Razali launching guidelines for the reporting and sharing of suicide-related content at Cybertorium Star Tower, Petaling Jaya. PETALING JAYA : Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil took social media giants Meta and X to task today for not doing enough to tackle cyberbullying, scams, and harmful content online. He said only TikTok had shown real commitment by voluntarily joining the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF). 'We cannot have these social media platforms washing their hands of content that could also create online harm, particularly related to suicide,' he said when launching CMCF's guidelines for the reporting and sharing of suicide-related content here today. Fahmi said he had asked CMCF to engage with Meta, X, and other major players, but that none came forward to participate. He said TikTok, on the other hand, took the initiative 'very early on, even before we came up with the licensing regime for social media and online messaging systems'. 'I wholeheartedly applaud TikTok's approach to voluntarily becoming a member of Content Forum,' he said, contrasting this with the 'far from satisfactory' response from Meta and X. 'Facebook, for example, said that they are going to be licensed. But they must understand that Content Forum is not government-led. It's industry-led. It's actually in their interest to participate so they can help develop best practices and codes of conduct.' Malaysians lost RM53.88 billion to online scams in 2024 – around 3% of the gross domestic product. From 2021 to April 2024, online scams claimed over US$708 million (RM3.18 billion) with more than 95,800 victims, according to the State of Scam Report 2024. Suicide rates have also risen sharply. In 2022, Malaysia recorded 1,068 suicide deaths – up 66.6% from 641 cases in 2020. Selangor had the highest number of cases (305), followed by Kuala Lumpur (135), Johor and Penang (123 each). Fahmi also called on vernacular media to support suicide prevention efforts, saying that mental health resources should be made available in all major languages. 'We need to reach out to the vernacular press. A lot of the content is in English, but our efforts must be understood in all languages,' he said. He urged journalists to adhere to CMCF's guidelines when reporting on suicides, particularly by protecting victims' identities and families' privacy to avoid 'copycat' incidents. 'Reporting about suicide is most sensitive and most harrowing for any journalist (covering the tragedy). We should not divulge the location or the personality in such tragedies,' he said. He said the CMCF guidelines also covered the broader digital ecosystem, providing practical advice on how to safely share lived experiences, avoid trauma-triggering content, and guide people towards available support services. 'This comprehensive approach reflects an understanding that every individual plays a role in creating a safer and more empathetic content environment,' he said. He said Malaysia's leadership in this initiative had also gained international recognition, with the guidelines selected for presentation at the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Putting ‘x' in toxic: Fahmi salms social media giants X, Meta for not doing enough to curb cyberbullying, scams
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today took social media platforms Meta and X to task, for what he described as their indifference towards combating scams and cyberbullying in Malaysia. Reflecting on the tragic death of social media influencer Rajeswary Appahu, also known as Esha, following online harassment last year, Fahmi said many platforms had yet to implement robust measures to curb cyberbullying, even as the government had bolstered existing legislation. 'The laws are mostly in place,' Fahmi said, after launching the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star here today. He was referring to the passage of two Penal Code amendments addressing cyberbullying in Parliament last year. Fahmi added that the Online Safety Act is set to come into effect soon, and it will be accompanied by the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council in the middle of this month, providing a platform to discuss related concerns. 'But, are social media platforms working hard enough to make sure that online harms are addressed more comprehensively? I do not think so,' he said. 'X really puts the 'X' in toxic. It is an extremely toxic environment.' The Suicide Content Guidelines, spearheaded by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF), represent Malaysia's first comprehensive framework for ethical reporting on suicide cases. The guidelines stress the importance of using appropriate language, censoring graphic images, and avoiding sensational headlines when reporting on suicide incidents. They also introduce the concept of the Papageno effect, which highlights how responsible media reporting on suicidal crises can help prevent further suicides. Fahmi said the CMCF would represent Malaysia in presenting the guidelines — considered among the first of their kind globally — at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025 in Vienna, Austria this month. He said ethical reporting on suicides was an act of compassion for the bereaved families and crucial to preventing copycat incidents. Fahmi also urged vernacular media outlets to produce more content on suicidal crisis management, noting that such resources are currently available largely in English.
CTV News
14 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Growing concern over cyberbullying in White Rock
Growing concern over cyberbullying in White Rock Police are urging parents to keep a close eye on their children's social media use amid an uptick in reports of online bullying and extortion.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Ban smartphones in schools, Starmer told – by the country that's done it
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to consider the 'overwhelming evidence' from New Zealand to consider banning smart phones from schools. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, New Zealand's education minister Erica Stanford said she has heard 'overwhelmingly positive feedback' about the world-leading phone ban in her country, with more engagement and less cyberbullying in schools. The New Zealand National Party government now hopes to take it further and introduce a ban on social media for under-16s. It comes as Sir Keir's government is under increasing pressure to introduce similar measures in English schools, with the Tories and campaign groups pressing for a ban. New Zealand's government introduced a ban on mobile phones in schools last year. Ms Stanford told The Independent: 'I've been told students are much more focused on their learning in class, they are engaging with their peers, reading more books, spending more time playing outside and there are fewer reports of cyber-bullying. 'I am committed to ensuring children are not only safe but remain focused in the classroom. Taking away the distraction of cell phones ensures better engagement in class and improves student achievement and wellbeing.' In the UK, a recent push by the Tories to add an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would require schools to prohibit phone use during the school day, was shut down by the government. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged ministers to reconsider after Sir Keir Starmer labelled the amendment as 'completely unnecessary', claiming 'almost every school' already bans phones. Ms Badenoch claimed: 'The prime minister is wrong: not all schools do this. Only one in 10 schools is smartphone-free.' Despite the government's stance, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has commissioned a review into 'whether schools in England are banning children's phones and whether bans are effective'. In New Zealand, the National Party's election promise was greeted with scepticism, criticism, and an assumption that students would become sneakier. Now, it's being praised by students and educators. Anna Wilson, acting principle of Wellington East Girls' College in the nation's capital, said the state-funded school has seen only positive results from the ban. She said: 'We see a lot more social interaction at break times, such as playing cards, volleyball on the courts, joining in on lunchtime activities and clubs that are student-led.' The nationwide ban came into effect in April last year, but Ms Wilson's school introduced the policy slightly ahead of the nationwide rollout, embedding it firmly into school life from the start of the year, 'and the momentum continued across the year.' Although they took charge with the ban, she said, 'the government policy across all schools was helpful as collectively each school was doing it at their campuses at the same time'. Fred Oppenhuis, head prefect of Wellington College, an all-boys secondary school, told The Independent the ban had a positive impact on students. He said: 'I think that the phone ban has significantly increased engagement and efficiency in class because students know that if they check their phone or bring it out without teacher permission, there are well-known consequences.' Oppenhuis said the initial reaction came with concerns as the thought of not having a phone at school was 'daunting'. But, he said it didn't take long for students to adjust, and most students said it wasn't as bad as they had anticipated. One of the loudest advocates for phone-free schools has been Jonathan Haidt, a prominent US social psychologist and author of the bestselling book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. She said that two years after schools go completely phone-free, they always seem to report big drops in disciplinary problems and increases in student engagement in class. 'My favourite outcome: teachers and administrators say 'we hear laughter in the hallway again'.' The New Zealand ban applies to all state schools and expects cell phones to be off and away during day, however, schools are allowed to decide how to enforce it. Mobile phones can only be used for educational purposes, however, there is an exemption for students who need their phones for learning challenges or health reasons. Parents and guardians must contact their child by going to the school office. However, some doubts have been raised by the Labour Party in New Zealand. Willow-Jean Prime, the New Zealand Labour opposition's spokeswoman for education, told The Independent: 'It is important young people are able to focus at school, and phones can be a distraction; but on the flip side, many students need cell phones, for example for accessibility reasons. 'In New Zealand, it is individual school boards of trustees that set the rules for the operation of schools. Schools have always been able to ban cell phones at school if they believe this is appropriate, and many already did."
