The Parental Mediation Model (PMM) was initially designed to regulate children's attitudes towards the traditional media. In the present era, because of prevalent online media there is a need for similar regulative measures. Spending long hours on social media and playing online games increase the risks of exposure to the negative outcomes of online gaming. This paper initially applied the PMM developed by European Kids Online to (i) test the reliability and validity of this model and (ii) identify the effectiveness of this model in controlling problematic online gaming (POG). The data were collected from 592 participants comprising 296 parents and 296 students of four foreign universities, aged 16 to 22 years in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The study found that the modified model of the five-factor PMM (Technical mediation, Monitoring mediation, Restrictive mediation, Active Mediation of Internet Safety, and Active mediation of Internet Use) functions as a predictor for mitigating POG. The findings suggest the existence of a positive relation between 'monitoring' and 'restrictive' mediation strategies and exposure to POG while Active Mediation of Internet Safety and Active mediation of Internet use were insignificant predictors. Results showed a higher utility of 'technical' strategies by the parents led to less POG. The findings of this study do not support the literature suggesting active mediation is more effective for reducing youth's risky behaviour. Instead, parents need Int J Ment Health Addiction

Abstract:Children are surrounded by a variety of digital media and therefore they are exposed to potential risks that come with them. Learning how to be safe online is an important consideration for both children and their caregivers. The present study proposes an integrated model of online safety based on constructs from Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), namely perceived severity of (and susceptibility to) risk, online self-efficacy, online privacy concern, and digital literacy. A survey was conducted among 420 schoolchildren aged 9 to 16 years. Using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling, the results illustrated the presence of a negative effect of 'perceived severity of online risk' toward online risks, whereas the effect of 'digital literacy' was found to be positive. Children, whose perception of online risks was more severe, would be less exposed to online risks if they had higher 'online privacy concerns' than the children with higher 'digital literacy' who are more exposed to online risk. In conclusion, engaging in safe online behaviour requires children to have a high perception of severity about online risks as well as knowledge of online privacy concerns. Online risks and opportunities are parallel. The factors that reduce/increase risk may also reduce/increase benefits, and therefore require further investigation.

Before the advent of the Internet, television with limited channels was the only media choice that most children were exposed to, and took place under family supervision. Children's television viewing was controllable and the risks were limited to watching sexual and violent content. Nowadays, children are surrounded by a variety of digital media and are exposed to many different risks, many of which are still unknown and under-researched. For many children, the Internet is fully integrated into their daily lives, along with the potential risks. The present study aimed to (i) describe the level of risks children are exposed to, and (2) test the measurement validity of a total of 45 items assessing nine scales online risky behavior in children were adapted from studies carried out in Europe and the United States. The study comprised 420 school going children aged 9, 11, 13, 14, and 16 studding in Malaysia. Descriptive analyses showed that children were more exposed to 'unwanted exposure to pornography' and less to 'conduct risk'. Boys and older children were more exposed to the risks compared to girls and younger children. The study validated five dimensions (inappropriate materials, sexting, contact-related risks on, risky online sexual behavior, and bullying/being bullied) assessing children's online risky behavior by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Further research is needed to investigate the measurement of children's online risk, since the scales developed in Europe and the United States are not wholly suitable to an Asian context.

The Internet offers children opportunities as well as risks. However, the risks children are exposed to are still unknown. A total number of 420 Malaysian children aged 9-16 were asked to fill a 54-items questionnaire measuring Child Online Risks. The result shows that children are more exposed to 'Unwanted Exposure to pornography' such as seeing obscene materials on websites (31%), and 'Potential harmful risks' such as seeing bloody movies or photos (26%), people being beaten up (26%), and hate messages (16 %). Malaysian children are in danger to encounter with online risks such as pornography and violence materials.

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