Say hello to IMDA’s media literacy heroes

By Sheryl Lee

COVID-19 wasn’t the only threat to besiege our world in 2020. As remote work and home-based learning became the new norm, digital hazards like pandemic misinformation, cyberbullying and online scams proliferated too.

To nip such safety and security concerns in the bud, the Media Literacy Council (MLC) has been hard at work running public education initiatives that spur Singaporeans to be better and wiser users of the internet. Whether it is through MLC’s flagship Better Internet Campaign (BIC) or its treasure trove of practical resources for parents and educators, this group of stewards from industry, community and government organisations empower Singaporeans to be safer, smarter and kinder online.

As a supporting partner to the MLC, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) plays a key role in identifying and facilitating key media and digital literacy initiatives. In this feature, we delve into the impact and inspiration behind the work of IMDA employees at the MLC.

From digital immigrants to digital natives

More than six years after she first joined the MLC, Ms Tammy Yap’s passion for empowering Singaporeans to become digital natives has not waned one bit.

The IMDA manager for Digital Literacy & Participation first became interested in digital literacy issues when she witnessed her parents and other elderly relatives struggling to embrace new technology.

Not only were they unable to reap the benefits of digitalisation, they were also more vulnerable to online scams, misinformation and other cyber hazards, she shared.

“I saw tremendous potential and opportunity to reach out to them through my work in media literacy and to further educate and empower them.” said Ms Tammy Yap.

Ms Yap, who is a member of the MLC’s secretariat team, explained.

One of her favourite projects, she recounted, had been the inaugural Better Internet Conference held in 2019. That was the first time the MLC brought in international experts to reach out to hundreds of parents, educators and the general public on digital and media literacy issues.

For Ms Yap, what stood out was the thrill and purpose involved in educating a wide variety of internet users.

Even as her work enriched the digital community, Ms Yap continued to discover new technologies on the job. Working at IMDA has taught her to be more open to change, she said. “We should always be nimble, flexible, and willing to learn and adapt,” she explained. These are the traits she wishes for herself, and for Singaporeans too.

Turning passion into purpose

From Nintendo to PlayStation, console to PC games, IMDA manager for Digital Literacy & Participation Mr Benjamin Tan has tried them all. While the avid gamer still marvels at the evolution of games over the years from simple two-player pastimes to immersive scenarios involving thousands of people, he has come to recognise the pitfalls of his beloved hobby too.

“With these games came the ability to interact with others through in-game chats as well as other platforms, and sometimes these interactions were not pleasant,” he shared. “I also come from a communications background, and the speed at which content can be created and disseminated by anyone scares me sometimes.”

Seeing these digital challenges up close, Mr Tan decided to turn his passion into purpose. Today, gaming is more than a cherished hobby for him—it also forms the all-important impetus behind his work. As part of IMDA’s digital literacy & participation team, Mr Tan supports the MLC in raising public awareness on topics like cyber safety and security, and helps manage collaborations between MLC and its tech partners.

One standout project, he recalled, had been a parenting webinar organised in collaboration with LEGO. During the webinar, the team demonstrated play-based techniques as a way to teach children digital literacy skills. “I found that really interesting as people would not immediately think of using analog items such as LEGO bricks to convey tech-related skills,” Mr Tan, who is also a father of two boys, added.

As his boys continue to grow, Mr Tan is keen on ensuring they have the requisite digital and media skills needed to thrive as responsible internet users.

“COVID-19 catalysed the digitalisation of our daily lives, and really gave people the push to adopt digital habits in order to thrive. However, this rush to start living online also opened up a new set of problems for people who may not have considered the various risks they may face or cause through their online actions,” he said.