‘Talk early, talk often’ about sex

Online danger: In the UK, one in 10 children has seen pornography by age nine – and with the Internet’s global nature, the stats could also apply to Malaysia’s children. — Filepic/Tribune News Service

IN the digital age, kids need a trusted source they can turn to with questions about love and sex – and research shows that parents and teachers should be that source. Avoiding the topic almost always increases a young person’s vulnerability to unprotected sex and related risks such as unplanned pregnancies, say experts.

This also includes other pressing issues such as toxic relationships and sexual exploitation or abuse in face-to-face and online contexts.