Hedonisme Culture Impacts Malaysian Teenagers
The culture of hedonism can increase social cases such as drug addiction, baby abandonment, rape, theft and so on.
OPINION, May 20 – The progress achieved by human civilization today is a source of pride where we integrate technology and science into our daily lives. This intervention provides great space and opportunity for each individual to enjoy the pleasures of life.
Therefore, when there are no obstacles such as war or poverty, members of society can easily fall into the culture of hedonism.
According to the Fourth Edition of the Dewan Dictionary, the culture of hedonism means a way of life that prioritizes fun or enjoyment of life.
Various alternatives are created by teenagers to enjoy fun such as celebrating Halloween. The Halloween event on October 29, 2022 in South Korea became a heartbreaking tragedy for the world community. The event killed 154 people, most of whom were teenagers.
This incident not only had a negative impact on its followers, but it is also forbidden for Muslims to celebrate Halloween. This is because this celebration is a symbol of some Christians and they celebrate it to commemorate the souls of those who have died.
Although this incident occurred in other countries, this situation should be avoided so that the young generation of this country is free from symptoms that harm themselves.
The Threat of Hedonism to the Younger Generation
In fact, hedonism can pose a threat to young people through the development of mainstream media. Teenagers are now focused on electronic media in line with the changing era of globalization. The development of the 4.0 Revolution has provided a lot of entertainment and can be accessed only through the fingertips.
Material or content that goes viral and displays indecent issues or descriptions on social sites such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatApps, Youtube and TikTok, etc. is difficult to control.
Based on the 2021 Survey on ICT Usage and Access by Individuals and Households under the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), internet use among Malaysians aged 15 and above has increased significantly to 96.8 percent (2021) compared to 89.6 percent (2020).
The increase in the use of social media by teenagers needs to be controlled so that its use is only for education and beneficial matters.
Without control over the use of social media, various elements of hedonistic culture that broadcast violent and extreme actions can be witnessed by young people, including teenagers who are still in school.
Hedonistic Culture and What Can We Do
The socialization of teenagers, whether at school or university, greatly influences their behavior. Usually, teenagers tend to socialize and have fun with their peers because it is more comfortable.
However, choosing the wrong peers allows an individual to get caught up in immoral activities. Teenagers who are not careful in choosing friends will follow the negative behavior of their friends. Young people often feel that they lack support from their families and choose a hedonistic lifestyle to fill the void in their souls.
With this, teenagers are easily influenced and easily accept the invitations of their peers without evaluating the good and bad. Finally, they are willing to deceive their parents to go out for fun such as attending concerts or entertainment centers.
The existence of many entertainment centers, especially in city centers, makes access to entertainment easier. In fact, there are entertainment centers that operate without a license and allow teenagers and school students to get entertainment at will.
The proof is a report from Harian Metro on June 26, 2020, presenting the revelation made by the Malaysian Community Crime Concern (MCCC) that there are 15 entertainment centers that are alleged to be drug distribution centers in the capital.
Entertainment centers such as nightclubs that are widespread allow teenagers to get entertainment and seek pleasure without limits. With the existence of entertainment places that have no social boundaries, social problems easily spread.
Social issues are not only caused by peer factors and physical facilities, but also spiritual factors contribute to a person’s behavior. A fragile religious belief allows a person to be driven by the culture of hedonism.
Along with the age of technology, teenagers are very vulnerable to a culture that can damage their minds. Religious education that is not emphasised enough in the family will make teenagers go beyond limits to the point of forgetting the religious beliefs that should be practiced.
Nurturing towards weak religious teachings makes young people lack strong beliefs in terms of faith, morality and personality. This weakness further increases the tendency of teenagers in the context of entertainment or socializing.
The Consequences of Hedonism’s Obsession with Individuals, Society and Countries
With the constant availability of entertainment, teenagers are more lazy to study and consider education unimportant. Statistics from the Department of Statistics on July 31, 2024 show that 72.1 percent or 390,000 students who graduated from the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) and the Malaysian Higher Certificate of Education (STPM) are not interested in continuing their studies.
The mentality that education does not guarantee the future is one of the main reasons why the younger generation does not want to continue their studies to a higher level. They think that by becoming an influencer or influencer on social media such as TikTok they can generate more income than those with higher education.
This group tends to make entertainment the main focus and purpose while raising the mentality that higher education is not important.
Young people are the country’s most valuable asset, but there are a few of them who like to get involved in negative things and find it difficult to control their desires well.
Even worse, teenagers tend to be materialistic and lead to worldly pleasures. The culture of hedonism can increase social cases such as drug addiction, baby abandonment, rape, theft and so on.
Based on a report from the Malaysia Gazette on July 5, 2021, in 2020, 20,643 drug cases were reported while in 2021, 7,066 cases. Although the trend shows a decrease in cases from 2019 and 2020, the value of reported cases is still high.
According to the study, those involved in these drug abuse cases are those in their early teens, aged between 13 and 18 years old.
Synergy of All Parties in Facing the Culture of Hedonism
In response to the negative impact of the culture of hedonism, authorities such as schools, universities and the government need to provide platforms or programs that are spiritual in nature for students.
Counseling and guidance need to be improved for the groups involved. Teenagers can be given counseling services either at school or at university. Various programs can be organized such as mentor mentees to further strengthen counseling sessions. Accordingly, counseling services in all institutions need to be improved by providing facilities such as shelters for teenagers who need guidance.
The ministry or government department also needs to take a serious look at the approval of entertainment that has a negative impact and is harmful to society. Strict action should be taken against organizers of entertainment programs that are focused on profit and give teenagers the freedom to take prohibited items such as magic pills.
The government should control forms of entertainment that can lead to neglect. The Ministry of Communications plays an important role by filtering or controlling entertainment on television or social media.
Controlling entertainment programs does not mean preventing teenagers from having fun, but rather is aimed at taking early steps to curb negative culture on teenagers. Instead, enrich scientific programs that can eliminate the culture of hedonism while also fostering a scientific culture among the younger generation.
Conclusion
Overall, the culture of hedonism brings various negative effects to adolescents. Therefore, it is important for all parties, including adolescents themselves, parents, educators, and society, to work together in curbing the spread of the culture of hedonism.
Steps such as strengthening religious and moral education, controlling the influence of mass media, and improving communication within the family need to be taken to ensure that adolescents grow up in a healthy environment. Hopefully, the effort to create a first-class minded society will be successfully realized.
MOHAMMAD ZARIZI JAMIL
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
AKTIVIS KEADILAN JOHOR
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