Careful Steps: Parents Say Digital Skills, Not Restrictions, Best Prepare Teens For Online World

At a recent digital safety session in Kuala Lumpur, a group of Malaysian parents agreed that raising digitally resilient teenagers depends less on locking down devices and more on building a real understanding of how to use them wisely.

The session, organised by Tatler with support from Content Forum, Pocket of Pink, The Inner Lynk and TikTok, brought together mothers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to discuss how families can help young people navigate life online.

Malaysian moms speak on what should (and shouldn’t) be done

Vatsala Nair Manoharan, founder of Moms Village Asia and mother of two, argued that simply blocking access does little to prepare teens for the risks they will eventually encounter — from unwanted contact and bullying to scams and unclear boundaries around consent. According to her, teens need practical guidance and a support network around them, not just rules.

Su Yen Pang, who has four children, made a similar point: protecting kids by cutting them off from technology isn’t the same as preparing them for it. She said the better approach is helping children build judgement — teaching them to pause, question, and choose wisely when using social media — since these are skills they’ll need as AI and other new technologies reshape daily life.

Tools to help parents and children navigate the internet

Entrepreneur and mother Elizabeth Thea said her own perspective on kids and social media shifted once she learned more about the tools that help keep families safe, and about the value of simply talking openly at home. She believes online safety works best as a shared effort between age-appropriate limits and ongoing education, so both parents and children build the confidence to handle whatever comes up online.

Nurida Suraya, Chief Operating Officer at Rizman Ruzaini, pointed to how central digital platforms have become to how teens socialise and express themselves, which makes staying engaged as a parent more important than ever. She singled out TikTok’s Family Pairing tool as a good example of technology that opens up conversation between parents and teens rather than shutting it down, giving families a shared starting point to talk about online habits.

Gianina Ginnie Kon, founder and clinic director at The Inner Lynk, added that a sense of belonging matters too — teens benefit from connecting with others who share their interests and values, which supports their overall wellbeing online just as much as safety measures do.

Transparency is key

By the end of the session, there was broad agreement on one thing: the strongest safeguard for young people online isn’t a setting or a filter, but a home where kids feel comfortable bringing up anything uncomfortable they run into — whether that’s bullying, misinformation, or something that just doesn’t feel right.

Also read: TikTok, Content Forum & PAGE Launch #ThinkTwice Training for Parents on Teen Digital Safety