He said although IT plays an important role in the growth of children, uncontrolled exposure to IT can have a negative impact from childhood until adulthood.
“Our challenge comes in the form of numerous television channels offering children, news and other programmes that will influence the children.
“Devices such as tablets and video games have changed the landscape of how to bring up children who are too much influenced by technology,” Ahmad Shabery told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the 7th World Summit On Media For Children (WSMC) 2014, in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday.
WSMC focuses on the role of the media in the growth, education and welfare of children in Asia, the first since the international conference was introduced 19 years ago.
Ahmad Shabery hopes that WSMC can study views and proposals from various countries so that they become a guideline in educating children in the IT era.
“Malaysia hopes that there is international consensus on efforts to check child pornography and the use of children as sexual objects.
“We have to check violent programmes so that children are not influenced and educate parents to control their children’s use of information technology,” he said.
He added issues relating to children should be given focus so that they are not exploited in the name of IT and and to develop quality human capital.
–BERNAMA
