86% of parents in Malaysia are worried their children might encounter harmful content online

Google and YouTube introduced the "Bijak Digital bersama Google dan YouTube" initiative, a program that aims to equip families in Malaysia with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the digital world safely. So, what should you know about it?

There’s a significant gap among parents in Malaysia

The program emphasises shifting from short-term active monitoring to long-term digital confidence building through mentoring and open dialogue. This move follows a YouGov survey that found a resilience gap among parents in Malaysia, where, although 67% feel confident in guiding their children about artificial intelligence (AI), many still struggle to translate this into consistent online safety practices.

Additionally, the survey revealed key challenges faced by local parents, including concerns about data privacy and exposure to harmful content or misinformation. A total of 86.1% of parents believe their children are at risk of exposure to inappropriate content, while 52.7% admit it is difficult to manage their children's screen time.

Besides that, to support parents' role as guides, Google and YouTube have provided various built-in features, such as SafeSearch to filter explicit content and YouTube Kids for a controlled viewing environment.

Moreover, the Family Link app allows parents to set app usage time limits, manage websites visited, and use the "School Time" feature to minimise disruptions during learning. On the YouTube platform, digital reminders such as bedtime and the ability to set a Shorts viewing time limit down to zero seconds are provided to help young users control excessive usage habits.

Furthermore, to provide technical equipment, the initiative also focuses on digital literacy through programs such as Be Internet Awesome. This program equips parents and children with practical skills to identify false information and develop more responsible online habits.

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