10/02/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | FEB 10, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

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Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

D EVICE time is part of most family routines and if it is not, then it should be. Managing it is critical, as it allows parents to set rules to protect sleep, study and social skills, with the ultimate goal being to stop screens from taking over the day. The following will go into what is enforceable, will the rules work and other simple limits that can be applied at home. Judge, jury, device time enforcer 0 Curfews before bed Many parents stop screen use at least one hour before bedtime. Evidence links late-night screens with poorer sleep in children, so a digital curfew helps wind kids down. 0 Screen-free zones As the “device-to-head” ratio continues to increase in modern families, parents should opt to ban devices at the dinner table or even in common activity areas, such as the living room. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screen-free mealtimes to boost family interaction. 0 Daily time limits Particularly for younger children, parents should aim for strict limits at roughly an hour a day of non-educational screen time for kids between two to five years old. For older kids, limits should instead focus on striking a balance between homework, sleep and physical activity.

Rather than abruptly setting boundaries on the usage of devices, parents should slowly introduce them.

Family device time rules

manage screen time and restrict inappropriate content remotely. “Through Family Pairing, parents can set their children’s accounts as either private or public, and manage direct messages to prevent contact with unknown parties,” he said. Meanwhile, Google’s government affairs and public policy manager Arianne Santoso said the Family Link application offers comprehensive controls, allowing parents to monitor downloaded applications, block access to age-inappropriate content and set specific screen-time limits, without having to physically handle their children’s phones. “If a child installs an application, we can see, for example, that the time and breaking up long sitting periods. 0 Makes limits predictable Children respond better to consistent rules than to ad-hoc or off-the-cuff bans. A clear family media plan that drills into each individual family member who can use what, when and where will even reduce daily fights. Potential pushback, alternative limits As the above is slowly put into long-term enforcement, the following will be some of the common battles and “retaliation” from children as they get used to it and how parents can solve them. 0 “Just five more minutes.” Try a visible timer or set device timers that automatically lock apps after the allowed time. Many devices now include built-in parental controls. 0 Homework vs play Stress homework completion first, with screen time later being extended as a reward. This sequence of give and take is simple and enforceable. 0 Hidden or secret use Keep devices in shared family spaces

application may not be suitable or age-appropriate for the child. We can then block the application through Family Link, without needing to directly use the child’s phone,” she said. The sharing session with platform providers was held in conjunction with the observance of Safer Internet Day 2026, aimed at promoting safe, responsible and positive internet use, particularly among children and youth. Themed “Smart Technology, Safe Choices: Safe and Responsible Use of AI”, the event, organised by the Communications Ministry and led by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, provided practical guidance on creating a safer digital environment for children. – Bernama overnight. Charging stations outside bedrooms reduce temptation and improve sleep routines. Additional limits worth trying are setting a one-hour rule for children between two and five years old for non-educational content, making sure there is no screen time an hour before bedtime and having one screen-free day or evening per week to instead boost family time. Far and above more important is parental modelling, as children copy what they see from adults. Parents need to follow the limits that they are attempting to enforce, from putting phones away during meals to not using the devices before bed. As research shows, these will produce the best results as parental training and consistent routines can reduce excessive screen time and improve behaviour in children. If parents take away anything from the above, it is to not immediately slip on a proverbial Nazi uniform and wield an iron fist before doling out extreme rules such as banning screens. The middle ground, where clear, short rules are set to fit their family, is far more preferable.

o Setting limits that work, enhance bonds

In the long run The enforcement of these regulations would pragmatically lead to: 0 Protection of sleep and activity Longer recreational screen time links

to less sleep and more sedentary behaviour, which can affect health and school performance. The World Health Organisation guidance stresses cutting recreational screen

Screen-free mealtimes boost conversation and strengthen family bonds. – ALL PICS FROM FREEPIK

Meta, TikTok, Google strengthen digital safety features for teenagers

PARENTS now have stronger digital safety measures to monitor their children’s activities while browsing the internet, through the introduction of control features, such as Meta Teen Accounts, Family Pairing (TikTok) and Family Link (Google). The initiatives by technology platform providers aim to ensure that the social media ecosystem remains safe and positive, in line with the need to protect children in the digital space. Meta Malaysia public policy manager Amirah Amir said the company has developed more than 50 safety tools, guided by global digital safety experts, to ensure a healthy online environment. “Trust and positive user experience are at the core of Meta’s

followed users, as well as the “Hidden Words” function to filter out comments containing bullying and harassment. “Users below the age of 18 will be placed under teen accounts, with the strictest settings. For those aged between 13 and 15, accounts are set to private mode and require parental consent for any changes,” she said. She said, since its launch in September 2024, about 90% of users in the age group have reportedly continued using the preset privacy-mode safety settings. Meanwhile, TikTok public policy manager Aliff Zakaria explained that the Family Pairing feature allows parents to link their accounts with their children’s accounts, to

business model, as digital platforms today are not only used for connectivity, but also for education and business purposes. “For teenagers aged 13 to 17, special attention is required through parental supervision, which is why Meta Teen Accounts were introduced,” she said at a sharing session, held in conjunction with the Safer Internet Campaign 2026, at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. Amirah said through these features, safety settings are automatically activated by default, such as private account mode for teenagers under 15, thereby reducing the burden of manual parental monitoring. Among the main features of teen accounts are strict privacy settings, which only allow interactions from