07/04/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | APR 7, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Toddler sets record for identifying insects T WO-YEAR-OLD Shayan Ishaan Hari Haran has entered the Malaysia Book of Records for identifying 30 o Boy names 30 bugs in 60 seconds

hands-on experience in online safety. This expansion builds on TikTok’s #ThinkTwice initiative in Malaysia, which has amassed nearly 400 million views on educational content and over 1.4 million visits to its multilingual knowledge hub to date. #ThinkTwice Training is part of TikTok’s continuous efforts to cultivate a more informed online community. To mark its inaugural launch, TikTok partnered with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) and Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page), which shared expert insights on raising responsible digital natives. TikTok aims to further conduct #ThinkTwice Training workshops with various local communities year-round. “We know it can be difficult for parents to keep up with the fast pace of technology, so we want to make their lives easier through Safety by Design. With teen accounts on TikTok having more than 50 preset privacy and security settings automatically turned on by default, parents don’t have to start from scratch. Recognising that every family is insects in 60 seconds. The record, titled “Most Insects Identified by a Toddler in A Minute”, was achieved on March 26. Shayan is able to recall more than 120 types of insects. During the attempt, he distinguished between closely related species, including darner and darter dragonflies, correctly naming each within the time limit. His mother Dr Harathi Dorairaja said his ability became clear early. “Before turning two, he could already identify and name over 100 animals. He was often complimented for his speech clarity, and that’s when I realised he had a unique talent,” she said. The attempt was conducted under Malaysia Book of Records verification guidelines. Harathi added parents should pay attention to a child’s interests rather than focusing only on basic learning. “Instead of focusing solely on basics such as ABCs or numbers, it is

Shayan demonstrates rapid recall while naming insects under timed conditions.

what they enjoy, learning becomes natural, engaging and meaningful,” she said. She highlighted parents play a role in identifying and developing a child’s strengths early.

important to recognise a child’s interests and nurture them accordingly. Learning through real life exposure, such as observing insects, helps children understand better. When children learn through

From left: Harathi, Shayan and Malaysia Book of Records representative Menaka.

Training parents to navigate online safety features to safeguard teens TIKTOK is advancing its digital literacy initiative with the launch of #ThinkTwice Training, a series of train-the-trainer workshops designed to equip community champions, including parents, creators, academics and civil society organisations, with practical digital experiences in real-life scenarios, including the Screen Time Limit under Family Pairing, Private Account setting, Restricted Mode, Creator Care Mode and more. The #ThinkTwice Training

workshop also guided parents through the step-by-step process of linking their accounts with their teens’, ensuring parents have the confidence and in-depth understanding to put knowledge into practice in their daily life. Mother of two and content creator Audrey Ooi emphasised: “My eldest is turning 13 this year, so social media is already becoming part of our family conversations. The training helped me understand the safety tools available, which I did not realise were so detailed. But more importantly, it reinforced that parenting in the digital age isn’t about banning, it’s about guiding, having open conversations and working together with our children to manage risks responsibly.” Mother of three and digital coach Wan Fatin Sufina urged: “In my view, guidance and education are more sustainable than simply banning access. Children today are resourceful, and if they are pushed away from regulated platforms, they may end up in spaces that are even less safe. That is why parents need to play an active role by understanding the tools available, having regular conversations and helping children build safer digital habits over time.”

Munawirah (far left), Mediha (far right) and TikTok representatives.

safeguard teens’ digital experiences. Most parents have busy schedules that make keeping up with technology difficult, therefore platforms should lighten the burden with safety-by-design principles and provide simple-to-use tools that automate parental supervision,” Page secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra added. #ThinkTwice Training A key highlight of the recent #ThinkTwice Training was the interactive safety simulation, where TikTok demonstrated how its safety features help parents protect teens’

digital world with our support and with the right safeguards in place. Thus, it is equally important for digital platforms to have default protections and provide intuitive tools that support parents,” Content Forum CEO Mediha Mahmood reinforced. “Creative expression is vital for fostering self-discovery, boosting self-esteem and developing problem-solving skills. It is also proven that digital participation translates into economic value. We must prepare teens for the real world and we welcome the digital literacy initiative by TikTok to empower parents with practical skills to

different, #ThinkTwice Training empowers parents to have peace of mind by learning to customise their teens’ accounts with Family Pairing, all in a few simple clicks,” TikTok Malaysia head of public policy Firdaus Fadzil said. “Digital skills are life skills. When parents are equipped with digital knowledge, tools and experience, our community can collectively raise resilient and responsible teens who can safely navigate the real world and grow up to be capable adults, online and offline. Instead of shutting teens out, we should be guiding them – letting them learn to navigate the