Exploring Online Teen Safety Of Malaysian Teenagers From A Gendered Perspective

Prepared by  Sara Rizal & Nur Sakinah Alzian

26th March 2025

As more teenagers use social media, their risk of exposure to online threats increases. Yet, multiple studies suggest that girls receive more parental supervision than boys[1]. This imbalance in online safety education is harmful because it places a disproportionate burden on teenage girls, expecting them to be more vigilant. 

Meanwhile, adolescent boys, facing less accountability, are more likely to engage in riskier online behaviour[2][3]. Without the same level of education, boys will lack the awareness and knowledge to navigate online threats such as cyberbullying, scams, and hacking – which can have lasting consequences.   

SERI’s white paper, Teens, Tech, and Trust: Navigating Social Media in Malaysia examines the online safety concerns faced by 185 Malaysian teenagers (aged 13 to 17), engaged with social media platforms[4]. In support of a gender-sensitive approach to online safety education, this article analyzes data collected from this study based on gender. 

Our findings suggest that while teenage girls and boys are vulnerable to online threats, they experience them at different rates and in various ways. 

This calls for policymakers, parents, educators, and relevant stakeholders to reevaluate existing online safety strategies and adopt a more inclusive, gender-sensitive approach that ensures all teenagers receive the adequate guidance and protection they need.

Where do Malaysian teenagers spend the most time online? 

Teenage boys and girls spend the most time on Instagram; however, their second and third choices differ, with the former spending time on YouTube and Telegram and the latter on TikTok and WhatsApp.

How many hours do teenagers spend on social media daily? 

Teenage girls spend more time on social media with an average of more than 4 hours a day, rather than teenage boys who spend an average of 2 to 3 hours a day.

Do Malaysian teenagers feel safe using social media and have they been cyberbullied, harassed online, or trolled?

Based on a sample study of 67 teenage boys and 118 girls, teenage girls are more likely to respond with “Maybe” whereas adolescent boys are more likely to respond with “Yes” when asked if they feel safe using social media. 

Teenagers who responded “Yes” or “Maybe” were then asked if they experienced any of the online threats listed. While the answers varied, a contrasting difference is that 51% of teenage girls noted that despite not receiving any threats, they still felt unsafe compared to 33% of adolescent boys. 

This difference in perceived online threats among teenagers reflects the gendered socialization norms that shape teenagers' behavior. For instance, teenage girls are more aware of the dangers of online harassment and are taught to be more cautious, while boys downplay risks due to expectations of independence. 

When asked if they’ve been cyberbullied, harassed online, or trolled, 21% of teenage girls responded that they have experienced some form of bullying whereas 18% of teenage boys admitted to being bullied. 

Have Malaysian teenagers been blackmailed or doxed? 

Another online safety concern is that teenagers could potentially be the subject of blackmail or doxing. The study asked if anyone had ever made them feel uncomfortable by asking for inappropriate content or trying to build a close relationship, to which 32% of teenage girls and 22% of adolescent boys responded “Yes.”

Meanwhile, when asked whether anyone had threatened to expose private information unless they complied, 6% of adolescent girls and 15% of teenage boys said “Yes.” 

Have Malaysian teenagers fallen for scams, hacks or impersonations?

9% of teenage girls and 13% of teenage boys admitted to being victims of a scam on social media. However, the majority reported not being directly affected but having witnessed one online, at 58% and 52% respectively.

When asked what types of scams they’ve encountered or have seen others experience, respondents were allowed to select multiple answers, with the majority selecting fake offers or deals. 

Findings from SERI’s study on online teen safety

Such responses demonstrate a pattern whereby girls are more susceptible to online harm than boys, specifically, cyberbullying and doxing. Findings from The 2024 Girls Attitude Survey by Girlguiding[5][6] also reveal similar patterns whereby out of a sample of 2,500 participants, 77% of girls had experienced online harm. 73% of girls aged 11-16 and 84% aged 17-21 encountered sexism online. 

Similarly, the Pew Research Centre conducted a study on cyberbullying among U.S. teenagers and found that while there’s no gender difference in experiencing online abuse, teen girls are more likely to have false rumours spread about them compared to teenage boys[7]. The Ministry of Women and Netsafe New Zealand also found from their study that sampled 1001 teens aged 14-17, that girls were at higher risk of being harmed by online communities than boys[8]. 

Another aspect to consider from the data is that teenage boys are more susceptible to other forms of online harm such as blackmail and scams. This reveals the limitations of reinforcing gender norms when parenting teenagers navigating social media. Boys aren’t socialised to be as vigilant as girls online, rather they’re conditioned to be independent. This lack of monitoring makes them prime targets for blackmail and scams. Recent studies support this claim as boys tend to disclose personal information online[9][10] and are more likely to make their Facebook profiles public compared to adolescent girls[11]. 

This reinforces the notion that social media platforms are facilitating the bullying, blackmail, and harassment of teenagers. As bullies can now conceal their identity online[12], this anonymity emboldens them to harass teen users, particularly teenage girls, without fear of consequences. 

How can we move forward? 

Parents and educators must recognise gender biases in their parenting and teaching styles. When girls are taught to be more vigilant in the digital space, they are socialised to be careful. Meanwhile, neglecting boys’ online behavior enables carelessness. Rather than reinforcing these stereotypical gender roles where girls are vulnerable and need protection while boys are independent and less at risk, we must ensure that both teenage boys and girls receive equal education and accountability in online safety and behavior. 

A necessary approach for parents is providing them with gender-sensitive resources[13]. For example, in the context of cyberbullying, parents can receive guidance on encouraging their sons to speak openly if they experience it and on empowering their daughters with self-confidence to cope with its impact. Such resources will enable parents to have open non-judgmental conversations with their children about online activities. In addition to being gender-sensitive, the resources must be culturally sensitive, age-appropriate, easily accessible, and available in multiple languages to meet families' diverse needs. 

Meanwhile, digital literacy in schools must be thought-provoking and interactive, rather than one-sided and patronizing so that teenagers are engaged. Discussions can be conducted in groups separated by gender, as boys and girls experience different pressures and concerns[14]. This will contribute towards creating a safe environment for them to express themselves. 

Online risks do not exist in a vacuum. Threats such as cyberbullying, online harassment, and trolling are a product of self-hatred, lack of empathy, and sexism. This is also exacerbated by the fourfold increase in the level of misogynistic content on the “For You” page of TikTok accounts[15]. Adults must be equipped with this contextual knowledge and are confident in discussing these wider issues with teenagers. 

We must move away from victim-blaming and moralizing narratives when discussing online safety with teenagers. Instead, we must educate teenagers, particularly teenage boys, on misogyny, how to identify it online, and its harmful impacts. Researchers from UCL, the University of Kent, and the Association of School and College Leaders (ACSL) also suggest a “peer-to-peer” mentoring approach when having these discussions about misogyny amongst young teenage boys, as they are more likely to listen to those around their age[16]. 

Ultimately, it’s important that teenagers feel empowered to make informed decisions in the digital space. This means fostering resilience online and offline. Resilient teenagers—those equipped with communication, conflict resolution, and self-efficacy skills—are more likely to make appropriate choices online, manage conflict on social media, and take better measures to maintain safety online[17]. 

Parental mediation such as limiting screen time coupled with the introduction of the Online Safety Bill 2024, which requires social media platforms to ensure platform safety, protect children under 13, and restrict access to harmful content, are positive steps in mitigating the risk of online threats[18]. 

However, it doesn’t eliminate or prevent online harm. While we must continue to pressure social media platforms to address the harm caused by their algorithms, we must also encourage teenagers to take responsibility for their digital footprint, including what they share online, who they connect with, and how they respond to threats. By building trust and equipping them with the right knowledge, teenage boys and girls can confidently navigate the online world. 

If you’d like to learn more about how Malaysian teenagers navigate social media and SERI’s policy recommendations for building a safer digital ecosystem for Malaysian adolescents, you can read our comprehensive report here. 

References :

1. Sasson, H. & Mesch, G. (2016) “Gender Differences in the Factors Explaining Risky Behavior Online”, Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 

2. Wachs, S., Junger, M., & Sittichai R. (2015) “Traditional, Cyber and Combined Bullying Roles: Differences in Risky Online and Offline Activities”, Societies Vol. 1

3. Notten, N. & Nikken, P. (2014) “Boys and girls taking risks online: A gendered perspective on social context and adolescents’ risky online behavior”, Sage Journals. 

4. Arulthevan, Yohendran Nadar (2024) “Teens, Tech, and Trust: Navigating Social Media in Malaysia”, Kuala Lumpur: Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI). 

5. Girlguiding (2024) “Girls’ Attitudes Survey”. 

6. (2024) “New Survey Reveals 77% of Girls and Young Women Faced Online Harm in the Past Year”. SWGfl. https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/new-survey-reveals-77-of-girls-and-young-women-faced-online-harm-in-the-past-year/

7. Vogels, E. (2022) “Teens and Cyberbullying 2022”, Pew Research Centre. 

8. Huffadine, L. (2018) “Teenage Girls More At Risk From Harmful Content Online Than Boys”. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/104481457/teenage-girls-more-at-risk-from-harmful-content-online-than-boys 

9. W.Lau & A.Yuen (2013) “Adolescents' risky online behaviours: The influence of gender, religion, and parenting style”, Computers in Human Behaviour. 

10. Notten, N. & Nikken, P. (2014) “Boys and girls taking risks online: A gendered perspective on social context and adolescents’ risky online behavior”, Sage Journals. 

11. Madden, M., Lenhart, A., Cortesi, S., Gasser, U., Duggan, M., Smith, A., et al. (2013). “Teens, social media, and privacy”, Pew Research Centre. 

12. Sasson, H. & Mesch, G. (2016) “Gender Differences in the Factors Explaining Risky Behavior Online”, Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 

13. Livingstone, S., Kalmus, V., & Talves, K. (2023) “Girls' and boys' experiences of online risk and safety”, The Routledge Companion to Media and Gender. 

14. Livingstone, S., Kalmus, V., & Talves, K. (2023) “Girls' and boys' experiences of online risk and safety”, The Routledge Companion to Media and Gender. 

15. (2024) “Social media algorithms amplify misogynistic content to teens”, UCL. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/feb/social-media-algorithms-amplify-misogynistic-content-teens

16. (2024) “Social media algorithms amplify misogynistic content to teens”, UCL. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/feb/social-media-algorithms-amplify-misogynistic-content-teens

17. (2020) UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office and the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, Our Lives Online: Use of social media by children and adolescents in East Asia - Opportunities, Risks and Harms, UNICEF, Bangkok, 2020. 

18. Arulthevan, Yohendran Nadar (2024) “Teens, Tech, and Trust: Navigating Social Media in Malaysia”, Kuala Lumpur: Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI).