Commentary: Mum was right when she said 'don’t talk to strangers'

File photo. Young people, being highly impressionable, are especially susceptible to online threats. SINGAPORE: We are taught as kids to never talk to strangers. Whether at the playground or walking home from school, the advice was drilled into us: If a stranger approached us offering a ride or treats like candy, we were to yell for attention and run away., this wisdom doesn't seem to be translating to the online world.

These questions have been raised in the discourse around the potential dangers children face online, amid a push for tech companies and governments to do more to keep them safe. Young people, being highly impressionable, are especially susceptible to online threats. They’ve grown up in a world where data-sharing over the Internet is a norm: From instant messaging to gaming and social postings, they are not short of avenues for information exchange.

Because let’s face it, the complete elimination of digital devices is not feasible. Surveilling every single conversation children have online is also impractical. Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo last month also announced that authorities will progressively release a series of guides to help parents manage their children’s screen use and foster healthy online habits.

Further, there is a crucial need for parents to enhance their safety skills and digital literacy. To aid with this, AI-powered parental control tools can offer adaptive and personalised settings, providing parents with effective means to supervise their children's online activities.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Commentary: What's holding Singaporeans back from having children?Singapore's total fertility rate has hit a historic low of 0.97, although surveys show that 67 per cent of 21- to 34-year-olds want to have children. Dr Kalpana Vignehsa of the Institute of Policy Studies explains what makes people opt out of these desires.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Commentary: In discussing Israel-Hamas conflict in Singapore, upholding social harmony is keyConcerns have sparked regarding what schools in Singapore are teaching students about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some have expressed gripes on social media that stem particularly from the Ministry of Education’s supposed stance of neutrality.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Commentary: There’s a US$3 billion opportunity if Singapore closes women's health gapThis International Women’s Day, discussions about how to uplift women more systematically should also turn to the issue of women’s health. While foremost an issue of equity and inclusivity, there’s also an economic argument, say McKinsey’s Lucy Perez and Sachin Chaudhary.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Commentary: Why are more people in Singapore going bankrupt?Personal bankruptcy applications hit an 18-year high of nearly 4,000 last year. Is this a cause for concern? Lawyers Lance Ang and Adrian Peh weigh in.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Commentary: Don’t blame parents for wanting children to speak ‘without an accent’We live in a society where speaking in a certain way still matters, despite the obvious inequalities this creates, says a sociolinguistics professor from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Commentary: What this doctor wishes Singapore knew about kidney disease preventionKidney failure cases are on the rise in Singapore. This World Kidney Day, Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Yeo See Cheng tells us what he wishes people knew about the debilitating condition.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »