“Parents need to understand how to communicate effectively with children and teenagers,” Oka stressed after the screening of the film Cyberbullying here on Friday.
She added that parents must also build their understanding of the digital technologies used by their children and adolescents in daily life.
“We must recognize that the world children and teens live in today is very different from 30 years ago. With the rise of social media, they now face enormous challenges,” she noted.
She further explained that parents are also faced with the challenge of continuously understanding and learning about the environment their children navigate. Without understanding their world, parents may not know how to assist their children when they encounter problems.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, said that while the Internet poses risks for children, it also has positive benefits that can support their skill development -- as long as their online activities are supervised by adults.
“We often assume that playing online games always has negative consequences and is one of the factors of cyberbullying. However, this film offers two perspectives, both the negative impacts and the benefits,” she added.
With proper guidance in the digital realm, children can gain positive outcomes from using the Internet.
“This is why the role of teachers and parents is so crucial in supervising children and helping them choose online friends who bring a positive influence,” Umar added.
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Translator: Anita, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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