Avoiding LGBTQ+ issues may leave youth misinformed and vulnerable
Encouraging respectful dialogue helps build understanding and resilience, especially among young people already exposed to these topics online.
OPEN conversations about LGBTQ+ issues, although sensitive, are crucial for society. Avoiding or suppressing these discussions can backfire, leading to misinformation, confusion, and long-term social challenges.
Encouraging respectful dialogue helps build understanding and resilience, especially among young people already exposed to these topics online. Rather than hiding from the issue, society must engage with it openly and wisely.
The risks of silence and suppression
University Putra Malaysia, Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Laboratory of Youth and Community Wellbeing, Head Laboratory, Dr Aini Azeqa Ma’rof said avoiding LGBT topics may seem like a way to protect cultural or religious values, but it often creates more problems.
From a social psychology perspective, silence can lead to misunderstanding, fear, and shame.
She pointed out that many Malaysian youth already encounter LGBT content on social media, regardless of whether adults talk about it.
“If we remain silent, young people may turn to online influencers, strangers, or unreliable websites for answers. Without proper guidance, they may develop misunderstandings, confusion, or even harmful ideas.
“Talking about this topic openly, in respectful and age-appropriate ways, gives us the chance to correct wrong ideas and offer balanced perspectives,” she said when contacted recently.
Teenage years are a critical time for identity formation, she noted, and if young people’s questions are ignored or met with fear, they may feel isolated or ashamed. This can harm their mental health and distance them from their families and communities.
She further said that talking about LGBTQ+ does not mean are supporting it, it means helping the young people understand the world around them, and how to make choices based on their values. These conversations can still reflect our religious and cultural beliefs, as long as they are done with wisdom and compassion.
Dr Aini stressed that talking about LGBT issues does not mean endorsing them, it’s about helping young people understand the world around them while staying grounded in their values.
“In today’s world, staying silent is not neutral, it is a choice. If we want to guide our youth, we need to be present in the conversation, not absent,” she added.
Social media’s influence and the need for safe spaces
Dr Aini also highlighted the powerful influence of platforms like TikTok, where youth are exposed to content on gender, identity, and relationships. Rather than trying to block access, she suggested the better approach is to create safe spaces for discussion and teach critical thinking.
“If parents or teachers respond with anger or shame, youth may shut down and turn to less trustworthy sources,” she said.
Adults should ask open questions like “What do you think this means?” or “How does this fit with our values?” to encourage reflection over reaction.
Media literacy is essential, she added, as many youth don’t understand how algorithms shape what they see online.
Teaching them to analyse content critically gives them more control over their beliefs.
Dr Aini noted parents and educators should also express their values clearly but kindly, as young people are more likely to listen when they feel respected.
“We can’t control everything our children see. But we can influence how they understand it.
“Our job is not to isolate them, but to anchor them, with faith, knowledge, and respect so they can stand firm in a complex world,” she said.
Suppressing LGBT conversations fuels misinformation
Echoing this view, University Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Human Ecology, Department of Social and Development Sciences, senior lecturer, Dr Wan Munira Wan Jaafar said that suppressing LGBT discussions only deepens misinformation and stigma.
Avoiding the topic can push youth toward online sources that lack context or promote polarised views.
"Discussions about LGBT issues should be age-appropriate, context-sensitive, and academically framed.
“They are not about advocacy, but about equipping youth to understand the complexities of identity, diversity, and media influence.
“Moreover, silence on these issues may inadvertently increase social marginalisation and mental health challenges among youth who are questioning their identity or encountering these themes in daily life,” she said.
In reality, many educators and parents are already addressing these issues quietly.
Dr Wan Munira highlighted that some secondary school counsellors in urban areas of Malaysia have received private questions from students exposed to LGBTQ+ content online, showing that the conversation is already taking place, though not always in safe or structured settings.
She stressed that instead of reacting with fear or censorship, parents and educators should offer thoughtful, supportive guidance.
She noted that platforms like TikTok act as cultural spaces where young people encounter a wide range of ideas. Simply avoiding or blocking content is not a sustainable strategy.
Instead, she recommended equipping youth with media literacy skills, understanding how algorithms work, evaluating credibility, and distinguishing between content that represents versus promotes certain ideas.
Open, values-based dialogue is key, she added. Parents and teachers can create safe spaces where youth feel heard, while gently grounding conversations in shared moral and cultural values.
“This isn’t about choosing between acceptance or rejection. It’s about empathy, understanding, and a more nuanced view of identity,” she said.
Bridging generational gaps through dialogue
Recognising generational gaps is also important. Dr Wan Munira pointed to intergenerational learning models, such as workshops led by NGOs like Empower, where youth and adults explore media together to build shared understanding.
She also urged a shift from reactive strategies like banning or silence to proactive approaches focused on mentoring, critical thinking, and compassionate engagement.
“Young people are already forming opinions online. The question is, will their understanding be shaped by silence, or by responsible adult guidance?” she added.
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