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In a survey[1] done in 2018, 85% of Singapore youths have social media accounts.
More than half of the youths have had encounters with cyber risks including:
Cyber bullying
Online explicit content including pornography and undesirable media
Communicating online with strangers (and even subsequently meeting them in person)
While it is impossible to weed out all inappropriate content in the Internet, the onus is really on you, as the end-user, to moderate your screen time and ensure that you do not become vulnerable to cyber risks and know how to protect yourself. In this section we will explore some of these dangers and what you can do to safeguard yourself from the dangers of cyber space. But first, watch this video!
Online 'Predators'
Consider the following situations that might have happened to you.
You received an anonymous request from a social media account (such as Instagram) requesting to follow you. You cannot tell from the profile whether he or she is someone you know. Do you accept his/her request immediately?
Someone using a social media account with a name of your friend (could be an old friend from primary school) request to follow you. You believe it is from the person you know, but he or she does not initiate any conversation, or respond to your questions. What do you do?
With the Internet being an open platform for anyone, there have been instances where ill-intent individuals create fake social media accounts in order to gain access to view your profile or attempt to reach out to your friends through your account.
Do not assume that undesirable approaches by strangers do not happen to boys, or that only girls tend to face such issues. You should practise discretion always, in cyber space, because you can never truly trust the person you are communicating with online unless you have ascertain his or her identity through authentic conversations or through official, verified platforms.
Likewise, do not attempt to create fake or even using your actual social media account to harass another person online. It is a criminal offence and you can be prosecuted in court. Think before you act!
Insta-Sex: Surviving Social Media
Watch this video about true stories of negative experiences encountered by teenagers in Singapore.
Although the characters are all girls, it is also relevant to boys and in fact, anybody.
If you have experienced or are experiencing any of these unpleasant situations, do speak to a trusted adult (such as a parent, relative, teacher or a school counsellor) who will be able to guide you to seek help.
Excessive Screen Time
Another important but less talked about area of Cyber Wellness is the impact of screen time on your health. How many hours did you spend on your mobile phone and/or your computer each day? 2 hours? 4 hours? 8 hours?
Addiction to our gadgets can be detrimental to health. Here are a few effects of long screen time:
Eyesight can be affected as we strain our eyes by staring/looking for long periods of time on our brightly-lit screens of our phones and laptops.
It is researched that the longer the screen time, the lesser the time spent on physical exercises[2] hence increasing the risk of obesity and other health-related problems.
Light emitted from devices can affect the brain's sleep cycle and causes problems with sleep and rest.
Hence, do remember to monitor your screen time and make sure you take regular 'eye break' when working on your assignments and tasks online. Make it a habit to put away your phone or detach yourself from your gadgets for a period of time before you go to bed.
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