Social workers engage reclusive youth via digital platforms, games

Aim is to build close bonds with the young people, get them to seek help when needed

- Shermaine Ang

He was retained twice in Secondary 1 and stopped going to school due to a health condition, which led to him being bullied.

Staying home all day for more than two years, Rico Ang spent his time playing mobile games and joined a Facebook group for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a mobile multiplayer online battle arena game.

"I was just looking for people to talk to," said the 18-year-old.

Rico was added to a Discord server—a communication platform that allows users to connect with friends and communities through text, voice, and video chat. While introducing himself, he said he was not in school, but in cyberspace most of the time.

The owner of the group then messaged him about a counselor he could talk to, who was also in the Discord group. The counselor was Mr Benjamin Loo from the Singapore Children's Society.

Mr Loo had joined the Discord server after finding out about it from one of the young people he supports, and chatted with its community owner to look out for young people needing help.

This is part of a new approach the Children's Society has been trying out since September 2023 that the charity calls "online drifting," where its staff go on various digital platforms that young people frequent to check in on them. The hope is that building close bonds with the young people will encourage them to seek help when they need it.

The Children's Society runs four physical drop-in centers in Singapore that promote positive development in those aged 13 to 21 through outreach, engagement, casework, and counseling.

They are VOX, JYC, RoundBox, and The Fort.