KUCHING: The rise in bullying cases in schools is closely linked to early exposure to violent and inappropriate online content, says mental health advocates.
They warn that children today are becoming increasingly desensitised to aggression due to unrestricted access to social media.
Rene Low, co-founder of The Care Circle, said the issue is not that bullying is new, but that it has become more visible, as young people now record, share, and circulate incidents online.
“Bully cases have always been happening. It’s just that last time, there was no media to show. Now, with the increase of media, they are more reported and people capture it,” she said.
Rene explained that the root problem goes deeper; children are exposed to the digital world long before their brains are ready to process violent or complex content.
“Kids nowadays, very early on, are exposed to media. Their brains have not developed that far yet,” she said.
This early exposure, she added, risks normalising extreme behaviour.
“Maybe they will think extreme violence is normal for them because they have been desensitised towards it,” she added.
She noted that in previous generations, young people encountered violent movies or mature themes later due to limited internet access.
Today, however, smartphones provide immediate access to unfiltered global content.
Meanwhile, co-founder Farah Mohammad echoed the concern, saying many children perceive harmful behaviour as entertaining because everything is now accessible, often without boundaries.
“When young kids are exposed to such things, it looks fun. They think it’s okay. This is where parental control is very important,” she said.
Both emphasised that parents must be more proactive in setting limits, including screen-time regulations and content restrictions.
Rene highlighted that parental control apps now exist to filter unsafe material from children’s devices, tools that many parents still underuse.
Beyond content exposure, Rene believes excessive smartphone use contributes to a deeper problem: an erosion of community values.
“With the phone, a lot of us focus on individuality, not community anymore. You get lost in that echo chamber of your own voice,” she said.
She stressed the importance of teaching children empathy and interconnectedness.
“It’s very important to teach kids that community is important. It’s not just you alone,” she said.
