THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had received at least 800 reports of social media abuse by youths in Sarawak, said a deputy state minister.
Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy State Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development, said these reports mostly involved cases of cyberbullying, scams and cheating.
"The 800 plus cases are being investigated by the MCMC now.
"They were reported throughout Sarawak from January to June this year.
"Abuses of social media must be tackled to prevent such communication platforms from being used to victimise others," he said.
Speaking at a youth event in Kuching, Rentap said young people must learn to be responsible and accountable for the things they post on social media.
He stressed that laws imposed by enforcement agencies on the usage of social media must be respected.
"It is not just about enforcement. The enforcement agencies apply the laws, but parents and community organisations must do more to educate their children on the need to use social media responsibly," he said.
Almost all youths, including the very young teens, are on social media daily nowadays, he noted.
This is due to the widespread availability of handphones, laptops, and computers that are wireless, he added.
Rentap called for more public awareness campaigns to be carried out to educate society about the responsible use of social media. - October 4, 2024
