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SHAH ALAM - As children and teenagers spend more time online, their exposure to harmful or inappropriate content has become an increasing concern.
While not all young users will experience the same effects, repeated exposure to violent, disturbing or unsuitable material can influence their emotions, behaviour and understanding of the world around them.
Universiti Teknologi Mara Shah Alam political and social media analyst Associate Professor Dr Sara Chinnasamy said the impact of harmful content varies depending on several factors, including a child’s age, personality, family support system and the frequency of exposure.
She highlighted several ways violent online content may influence children and adolescents, including:
1. Emotional distress and fear
Sara said repeated exposure to disturbing content, especially materials involving violence, abuse or sexual themes, could trigger emotional reactions among children.
“Young users may experience fear, anxiety, sadness, confusion or distress, particularly when they are exposed to content that they are not emotionally prepared to process,” she said.
Unlike adults who may have stronger emotional coping mechanisms, children may struggle to separate what they see online from real-life situations, causing them to develop unnecessary fears or worries.
2. Changes in behaviour and attitudes
According to Sara, frequent exposure to harmful content could also influence how children behave and respond to situations around them.
She added that repeated exposure could increase aggressive behaviour, encourage imitation of risky actions, or make inappropriate behaviours seem more acceptable.
3. Impact on beliefs and understanding of social norms
Beyond behaviour, she said online content can shape the way children view relationships, body image, gender roles and social expectations.
She said the media plays an important role in forming children’s perceptions of the world, but harmful or unrealistic content may reinforce unhealthy beliefs.
"Media can shape perceptions about relationships, body image, gender roles and social norms, sometimes reinforcing unrealistic or unhealthy expectations," she said.
4. Effects on mental health and self-esteem
Sara warned that excessive exposure to harmful online content may also affect children’s mental well-being.
She said some young users may experience increased stress, anxiety, sleep problems or lower self-esteem, particularly those who are already vulnerable or lack sufficient emotional support.
5. Academic performance and social development
Spending excessive amounts of time consuming inappropriate content can also affect children’s daily routines and development.
Sara said prolonged exposure could reduce the time children spend on important activities such as studying, physical exercise and building healthy relationships with family and peers.
She stressed that online habits need to be balanced with offline experiences that support children’s social and emotional growth.
