Child influencer? Experts warn public persona can hinder self-esteem

SHAH ALAM - Creating a public persona for children on social media may lead to risks outweighing benefits, potentially distorting their self-worth and hindering the formation of their identity.

Most parents who exposed their children to social media from a young age hoped they would become famous when they grew up.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) associate professor Dr Hijaz Ridzwan said when parents create a public persona for their children on social media, it brings more risks than benefits.

He said children might develop a skewed understanding of self-worth, feeling pressured to conform to the image projected by their parents rather than exploring and forming their own identity.

"Being exposed to social media before understanding or consenting to it can lead to confusion and a lack of autonomy in shaping one's online presence.

"It may affect a child's sense of identity, as they may struggle to distinguish between their genuine self and the persona crafted by their parents for public consumption,” he said when contacted recently.

Hijaz stressed that children under 13 lack the maturity to handle various forms of online abuse and bullying.

He urged that the ‘reminder’ by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that children under 13 should not own any social media accounts must be followed up by stern action against those who fail to adhere to this ruling.

"They might also compromise the safety of their children as they are exposed to the public eye and may invite unnecessary attention,” he added.

He emphasised long-term repercussions for children whose parents extensively post about them on social media including potential privacy breaches, exploitation and challenges in establishing boundaries between their private and public lives.

Hijaz added the exposure could also impact their future relationships, career opportunities and overall well-being.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Psycho-Spiritual Well-being Association Deputy Chairman Psychologist and Suicidologist Dr Adnan Omar said children whose identities were created and decided by others lose the opportunities to independently become their selves, which was unfortunate.

He said when the parents painted supposed or assumed identities about their children online, these children were robbed of such fundamental learning process to become adults, to fully understand themselves and to create their own identities.

"Children are in the process of developing identities as they grow up. They still do not acquire cognition and maturity to fully understand and make sense of the world around them.

"As a result, these children may have interpersonal skill problems when they grow up and are away from their parents.

"They may become less independent in decision making because parents have been doing that on their behalf as they grow up,” he said when contacted recently.

Adnan said these children might struggle to establish healthy boundaries of privacy and autonomy later in life because they lack early experiences and opportunities in this regard.

"They need to discover and learn things on their own as they venture into adulthood, this includes making their own mistakes and learning from the mistakes,” he added.

Adnan stressed that if the intention was to make the child famous, it might amount to trying to mold the child into something they were not, without their consent.

He compared it to a parent coercing a child into a specific profession against their wishes.

He urged parents who create online personas and identities for their children to consider seeking professional help, as this behaviour might stem from their own dysfunctional social media habits.

In a related matter, Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology president Joel Low said such actions could lead to children growing up highly susceptible to suggestion or influence, as they might not be accustomed to making decisions for themselves.

He said that this practice could strip away a significant amount of the child's personality, leaving them confused about their identity and struggling to define themselves.

"The need to be something they’re not, would mean a lot of stress and anxiety.

"Also, the question about why they as themselves isn’t good enough, to a point where their parents need to make them be someone else. I think it can be affected quite a bit.

Joel said due to the abundance of comparisons and ‘ideals’ shared online, children, who are often quite impressionable, might quickly embrace these ideals as reality.

However, in reality, much of what is portrayed on social media is either fabricated or only represents one side of the story, rather than the complete picture.