PUTRAJAYA: Cyberbullying has transcended its online boundaries, impacting the real-world and causing a surge of social and health-related problems.
Communication and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) chairman Rafiq Razali said there was a necessity to collectively eradicate online bullying, promoting responsibility and respect in digital interactions.
Recent tragic incidents underscore the urgency in addressing escalating cyberbullying issues, which have resulted in profound real-world consequences including mental health challenges, social isolation, and loss of life, he said.
Rafiq said statistics from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed over 51,000 cases of harmful content circulated on social media and over-the-top (OTT) platforms in the first quarter of this year.
The growing number of online harassment and abuse via digital interaction has undeniably caused an impact on our well-being and mental health," he said in a statement today.
He stressed the importance of fostering empathetic online discourse rather than blaming victims alone.
Rafiq further highlighted the need for responsible reporting and sharing of suicide news to respect grieving families and encourage compassionate online interactions.
Society has a collective responsibility to ensure discussions about suicide focus on prevention and awareness, not victim-blaming, he said.
To promote self-regulation and responsible content creation, the Content Forum recently conducted a webinar addressing online hate speech, he added.
"This is part of ongoing efforts to conduct regular dialogues and training sessions with universities, schools, teachers, and academicians on combating cyberbullying and protecting themselves online"
Rafiq said the forum will give its unwavering support to the government to help keep individuals away from any online harm.
" We will not be able to obtain the result we want, without the active participation of youth organisations, mental health experts, civil society groups, educators, parents, law enforcement agencies, and technology companies.
He said social media platforms must continue improving their content moderation processes and explore AI-driven tools that detect harmful content in real-time, potentially stopping cyberbullying before it escalates.
"These advancements should include more sophisticated algorithms that can accurately identify and flag abusive language, harassment, and other harmful behaviours without disproportionately affecting legitimate discourse.
"Promoting digital literacy and awareness among users is also vital. All parties should collaborate on educational campaigns that teach responsible online behaviour, the consequences of cyberbullying, and the importance of empathy and respect in digital interactions.
"By working together, we can develop comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of cyberbullying, support victims, and create a safer online environment," he added.