IPOH: Parents should monitor which influencers their children are following or communicating with on social media.

       Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders Perak Chapter head Sharifah Hazlina Syed Musa Jamalullail said parents need to ensure that their children are not exposed to sexual grooming as this is being done online now.

       She said that children need to be monitored closely online and know who they are communicating with, adding that many now have smartphones.

       “Some children are obsessed with influencers, preachers and popular icons on social media. Some paedophiles may have similar likeable traits as the influencers,” she said in a statement on Tuesday (July 27).

       “Paedophiles will use whatever ways to coax their victims to do various indecent acts online before getting the opportunity to do any acts physically,” added Sharifah Hazlina.

       “Parents must monitor their children’s activity to know who they are communicating with,” she added.

       Sharifah Hazlina said parents should also lodge reports about any suspicious activities to stop acts of sexual grooming.

       “Every year, we celebrate World Children’s Day, so it is high time that children be given attention and protected from sexual grooming.

       “The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and the National Film Development Corporation should also collaborate to create short films or animations to create awareness to the public on the matter,” she said.

       “The videos can be aired at peak hours so the message can be received by the people,” she added.

       Last month, a cosmetics entrepreneur and his friend in Kajang were being investigated for alleged sexual grooming and obscene communication with minors through their Instagram accounts.