Youth befriending column in magazines prove to be dangerous, caution needs to be exerted by publication, says Tan Wen Hui.
On Friday, 29 July 2011, a Chinese national turned Singaporean citizen was found guilty of rape by the Singapore High Court and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.
Wang Jianbin, who came from China to Singapore in 1997 and was granted citizenship in 2005, was alleged to have raped a 13 year old girl he had met through a befriending column in a teenage magazine. He was also ordered to be given 15 strokes of the cane.
Wang had met his target through a befriending column in a teen magazine in October 2009. Since then, he continually harassed her by plying her with sexual questions via instant messaging, text messages and phone calls, despite being told that she was not interested and already has a boyfriend.
Uneasy with Wang’s continual harassment, the girl told him that she was in an intimate relationship with her boyfriend and was not keen in meeting him whenever he pressed to meet with her.
Then came the final straw. On 2 December 2009, Wang texted message the girl, asking her for her address as he wanted to meet her. The minute she declined, Wang threatened to “find trouble” and bring his gang to “mess up” her home and divulge her intimate relationship to her parents.
The girl, perhaps frightened, gave in to Wang’s demand and when he arrived, went straight into her room as per instructed. And it was only after the door was closed did the horror start.
Publications to Practice Self-Censorship:
Teenage Magazine is one of the youth magazines in circulation that once upon a time, features the objectionable befriending column
While Wang’s actions ought to be condemned, so do youth-oriented publications for their role in enticing sexual violence.
On the publisher’s perspective, promoting high sales through offering colourful, interesting reads are by no means wrong, on retrospect; however, the creation of befriending columns in youth magazines presents the wolf an opportunity to pick their prey, as in Wang’s case.
So, publishers, are you aware that it is your prerogative, if not parents, to ensure that all printed materials are socially and morally responsible, no? Then be introduced to the art of self-censorship.
Under the National Printing Presses Act, the onus is on the publisher to make certain that their publications do not feature content which can be considered objectionable on moral, racial or religious grounds.
Having said, the goal here is for the publisher, editor or journalist to exercise social responsibility via the contents created. And if need be, greater emphasis must be placed on parental guidance for parents need to be proactive in guiding their fledglings, especially in this day and age where content is easily accessible.
All in all, objectionable content, even the most subtle of it that’s deemed saleable right from the start, should have no place in society – especially in multi-racial and cultural Singapore.
And to youths desperate to widen their social circle, getting to know friends through the Internet or such magazines may not be the safest place after all. It is better to err on the side of caution when exchanging handshakes and contacts, don’t jump in to a relationship without knowing your partner inside-out.
NEWSPRINT
Posted on July 30, 2011
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