COMMENT | Over the past four years, Southeast Asia has witnessed troubling incidents of youth violence. In October 2023, a 14-year-old opened fire at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, killing three people.

Most recently, on Oct 14, a 14-year-old brought combat knives to school in Bandar Utama and fatally attacked a fellow student. These incidents reveal striking similarities: young perpetrators, targeting of public or educational spaces, and particular attention to appearance, method, and weaponry.

This is not a coincidence. Contemporary research suggests these incidents may reflect an emerging regional pattern within a global continuum of violence, connected to how some young males form their identities online.

These digital environments can shape worldviews, understandings of masculinity, and responses to social isolation or perceived rejection.

Moving beyond knee-jerk responses

In the wake of the Bandar Utama stabbing, Malaysian communities are searching for answers...