Malaysian Teen's Trial Is a National Reckoning

Malaysia is watching a rare juvenile murder trial that has quickly become a flashpoint over kids, phones, and the internet. A 14-year-old boy, who has since turned 15, is accused of fatally stabbing a 16-year-old female schoolmate, Yap Shing Xuen, in a bathroom at their secondary school near Kuala Lumpur last October, reports the BBC. He has pleaded not guilty. Under Malaysian law he cannot be named, but if convicted, he could face 40 years in prison. His age shields him from the death penalty. Police previously said social media appeared to have played a role, and reports about a note found in the suspect's possession have only amplified that. Its contents have not been officially revealed.

"The responsibility, of course, goes back to parents and schools, but almost all of these issues stem from the unchecked use of mobile phones and social media," Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said last year, per the Independent. The case has prompted a national debate over online misogyny, the "manosphere," and incel forums, and the BBC notes that the slaying has drawn comparisons to the Netflix series Adolescence, about teenage boys and digital radicalization. Since June, Malaysia has barred children under 16 from opening accounts on major social platforms, part of a broader effort aimed at limiting harmful content.