26/05/2026

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TUESDAY | MAY 26, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

@thesundaily @t

COMMENT by Nurhazwaliza Kamarod

Who am I when the media is watching? E VERY day, I wake up and scroll. Before I even brush my teeth, I have already seen someone’s vacation in It has allowed many of us to share our cultures with pride, to reclaim languages that were once mocked and to talk about mental

health, gender or faith with honesty. And most importantly, it has given a platform to young people who, in the past, would have remained invisible. But here’s the catch: the media also fragments who we are. We curate the best version of ourselves online. We post the wins, the aesthetic angles, the achievements and the carefully selected quotes. But what about the in- between moments? The confusion, the insecurity, the loneliness or the cultural expectations we quietly carry? These parts of our identity don’t always fit into a 15-second video or a neatly filtered Instagram post. When I was younger, I used to think media was just a reflection of the

parts of the world that I have never been, a clip from yesterday, a girl unboxing the latest phone and a stranger’s opinion on why Gen Z is “too soft”. Yes, it is exhausting but let’s face it: It is addictive and impossible to ignore. This is the media world I grew up in – not just consuming it but being shaped by it. Whether we realise it or not, the media tells us who to be, what to care about and how we should show up in the world. And for many of us in this generation, our identity is still being negotiated under the constant gaze of likes, shares and filters. I believe that the media is not inherently evil. It is one of the most powerful tools of our time. Through platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, I have learned about cultures I have never known, ideas I have never encountered and stories I would never hear on mainstream news. The media has connected me to

“Whether we realise it or not, the media tells us who to be, what to care about and how we should show up in the world. And for many of us in this generation, our identity is still being negotiated under the constant gaze of likes, shares and filters.

We need more platforms that allow young people to express themselves without fear of being judged or misrepresented. – AI IMAGE BY HASHINI KAVISTHRI KANNAN/THESUN

into a single brand, label or algorithm to be valid. So the next time I catch myself asking, “Am I enough?” because of what I see online, I will pause, breathe and remind myself: I’m not just content, I’m a person. A generation is watching but more importantly, we are watching ourselves. Let us make sure the version we see, and more importantly the version we share, is real. Nurhazwaliza Kamarod is an undergraduate student of Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

same. We need more platforms that allow young people to express themselves without fear of being judged or misrepresented. We need media that uplifts diverse voices, especially those who have been historically silenced or sidelined. Whether it is a podcast in a local dialect, a photo essay on hijabi skaters or a TikTok explaining rural traditions, our generation needs to tell our own stories, in our own way. And finally, we need to remember that identity is more than an aesthetic; it is a journey. It is okay not to have everything figured out. We don’t need to fit

So how do we resist this pressure to perform? How do we reclaim our image when the media constantly tries to define us? I believe it starts with intentional storytelling. Instead of copying what gets the most views or what the algorithm prefers, we need to ask ourselves: What story do I want to tell? What version of myself feels honest? For me, that means being real – be it about my language, my background, my struggles with identity or my hopes for the future. It means showing up online the same way I do offline – imperfect but real. It also means creating space for others to do the

world. But now I see that the media actually “creates” the world. And more importantly, our place in it. It tells us whose stories matter, whose beauty is valid and whose struggles are “trending”. And often, those of us from small towns, minority backgrounds or non Western cultures don’t see ourselves represented at all. Or worse, we are reduced to stereotypes.

communities that affirm who I am – as a Southeast Asian youth, as a Muslim and as someone navigating life in between tradition and modernity.

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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