Kids reveal 'open secrets' about Internet usage at KL Converge

Some eyebrow-raising responses on Internet habits were heard from schoolchildren at a session attended by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and heads of leading telecommunication companies at the KL Converge 2014 event today.

The interactions were spiced up with 'revelations' that many already considered open secrets -- such as children would rather their parents not know what they were up to online and that they knew more than their parents with regard to the cyberworld.

Many revealed that they would spend hours browsing online, especially getting connected with friends on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms.

Interesting remarks aside, what was notable was the confidence shown by the children in articulating their frank opinion and posing thought-provoking questions directly to the industry players present during the session titled 'Kid-SPEAK with Minister and CEOs'.

Commenting on this later, Ahmad Shabery said: "Usually, when we have conferences of this nature, we listen to talks by people wearing ties, but today we are getting 'lectures' from children."

"I did not think that children aged 10 or 12 would have such a high level of knowledge, such as on the difference in the values of currency and the prices of fuel as well as the Internet," he said.

"Several matters conveyed by them kindled our attention, such as Internet speed, their displeasure over advertisements on the Internet and often-used applications," he said.

He explained that the ministry regarded the views of the children as a serious matter for consideration when formulating related policies in the future.

KL Converge, a three-day multi-platform creative industry conference and exhibition, was opened today by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the KL Convention Centre.

The coordinator of the session and TIME dotCom Bhd CEO Afzal Abdul Rahim said the session provided interesting insights into what transpired when children ventured online.

"We got to understand what they're curious about and how they use the Internet in their daily lives," Afzal told Bernama after the session ended.

The session, among a series of events organised in conjunction with KL Converge, took place in a casual atmosphere to encourage two-way communication with the children.

Afzal said it was difficult for parents to stop their kids from surfing the Internet but they needed to warn their children of the dangers associated with it.

"What we're most concerned about is whether our kids are going to be safe or not when they're online, and in order for them to be safe, parents should know what the risks are," he added.