KUALA LUMPUR: The habit of “sharenting’ or the sharing of photos and videos by parents or guardians of their children on social media should be discouraged, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
.To put a stop to this habit, she said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is considering coming up with a new law or amending provisions under the Child Act 2001.
“We have been discouraging sharenting through our channels and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“This is because children are supposed to be protected from perpetrators who might take advantage of the information shared by the parents online. But if there is a need for us to come up with a law, we will look into that.
“We are still amending the Child Act, so we will see if we can add (the aspect of sharenting) into the law,” she said after launching the World Children’s Day and Unicef’s 70th anniversary in Malaysia celebration here yesterday.
She was commenting on The Star’s report on Monday, which quoted experts who called for amendments to be made to the Child Act to address the growing concern of parents or guardians involved in sharenting, which may expose the children to online predators.
In her speech, Nancy touched on the rise of technology that has created new opportunities for our children.
However, she warned that these advantages also come with risks, such as cyberbullying, misinformation, sexual exploitation and abuse.
“Safeguarding our children’s well-being in their learning environments is equally important.
“Our children deserve a friendly learning ecosystem that encourages them to engage, explore and grow without prejudice.
“Students, educators, families and society at large share the responsibility of using technology to enhance their learning environment ethically.
“Listening to their perspectives, dreams and concerns is essential for us to make informed decisions that genuinely reflect their needs,” said Nancy.
Unicef representative to Malaysia, Robert Gass, who was also present at the event, said the organisation will continue to work closely with cities across Malaysia to transform urban spaces into child-friendly environments.
“We want to ensure that every child has a right start in life through healthy nutrition and early learning programmes, laying the foundation for a healthy and prosperous future,” he added.
As part of the celebration, Unicef also marked the 60-year partnership with Malaysia, which began on July 1, 1964, with the signing of the Basic Cooperation Agreement by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
This alliance has been instrumental in advancing children’s rights and welfare in Malaysia over the decades.
