KUCHING: Senior citizens must equip themselves with digital knowledge to safeguard their families, especially the younger generation, from the growing threats posed by social media and online platforms.
Sarawak State Library’s (Pustaka) Chief Executive Officer, Japri Bujang Masli, said elderly citizens often play a crucial role as caregivers to their grandchildren while parents are at work.
“Many of us are the ones looking after our grandchildren. It is our responsibility to ensure they are not given access to gadgets and social media at too young an age,” he said in his video speech when officiating the Elderly Citizen Day 2025 celebration at Pustaka Sarawak’s Exhibition Gallery today.
Japri stressed that understanding information and communications technology (ICT) is essential for senior citizens to protect themselves and their families from online threats, including cyber scams and unhealthy digital influences.
He noted that in recent weeks, several cases of school bullying and juvenile misconduct had been reported, with early findings pointing to gadget and social media exposure as major contributing factors to changes in children’s behaviour and psychological development.
“When children are exposed too early, they may lose their sense of reality, thinking the virtual world they see in games is the real world. This can lead to abnormal behaviour if left unchecked,” he said.
Japri also called on stakeholders to review existing policies and programmes to ensure that the quality of life for senior citizens continues to improve holistically, covering physical, mental, social and digital well-being.
“Elderly citizens have sacrificed their youth and energy for their families, the state and the country. It is important that we now equip ourselves with the right knowledge to continue protecting and guiding future generations,” he added.
The event also served as a platform for the younger generation to express appreciation for the contributions of senior citizens.
The celebration featured several knowledge-sharing sessions focusing on safety, health and digital literacy, aimed at empowering senior citizens to navigate new technological challenges confidently.
