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TAWAU: The unrestricted flow of information on digital platforms and a lack of critical thinking in evaluating social media content pose a significant threat to moral values, spiritual resilience and the identity of Sabah’s younger generation, said Sabah Islamic Organisation (Usia) president Datuk Sapawi Ahmad.

He said the borderless digital ecosystem exposes netizens, particularly youths, to manipulative propaganda, extreme provocations and the spread of deviant teachings, while many increasingly seek quick solutions, including spiritual guidance, through social media without proper guidance from qualified teachers.

Speaking to reporters during the Program Wacana Pemikir Zon Tawau at the Tawau Community Hall on Saturday, Sapawi said much of the content circulating on social media was questionable, often lacked comprehensive factual accuracy and was increasingly shaped by provocative material designed to influence public thinking.

The programme was officiated by Youth, Sports and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.

Sapawi warned that continued use of digital platforms without proper knowledge, critical evaluation and self-regulation could erode individual morals and undermine community harmony, urging Sabahans to participate in physical knowledge-sharing programmes such as forums, lectures and dialogues to encourage mature, fact-based discussions.

Sapawi said Sabah’s culture of harmony, tolerance and mutual respect across different religions, ethnicities and languages must be safeguarded from negative external influences spread through digital channels, adding that Usia plans to expand the Wacana Pemikir programme statewide following its launch in the Tawau zone.