Secondary School Students’ Online Activities and Their Experience in Cyber Risks

Abstract

Today's technology and communications (ICT) facility has seen the creation of various social media platforms, chat application and even online entertainment platforms. So, more and more generations are accessing these platforms in search of entertainment, information and even communicating with others. This situation actually opens the door to cyber risk when it is not used wisely and responsibly. As a result, in recent times, various incidents have been reported in adolescents that involve cyber risk, affecting psychological, mental and physical health. These include cyberbullying, digital games and social media addiction, pornography, grooming, cybersex and the misuse of personal information. The purpose of this research is to investigate the online activities among school students and to examine their online risks experienced by Malaysian secondary school students. A total of 1376 form four students (16 years old) were involved in this research. The research data was collected using a set of questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 software. The findings show a high trend of online student activities for communicating, socializing, watching videos and finding information. Although students' experiences of cyber risk are low, steps to control the situation need to be taken in order to prevent the any risks when they are online. Therefore, this research paper also discusses the role of all parties in ensuring that the cyber world is used wisely and responsibly.