I refer to last Sunday's article, 'Rise in teen sex? Blame it on the Net, say experts'.

As a minor myself, I am greatly concerned about rising sexual activity among teenagers here.

I largely agree with the points raised in the article, such as the one made by family service centre director Frederick Low, that the cyber world provides an easy source of sexually explicit material.

The Internet is an ever-growing and widely accessible resource that is difficult to monitor and control, and thus would be a likely avenue for inquisitive youngsters to explore such materials.

Parents should be aware of their children's Internet activities and whom they interact with. This could help address any unhealthy sexual interest their children may have.

But even as we stress the importance of parental guidance at home, we cannot ignore the fact that minors here continue to have easy access to sexually explicit material.

While I greatly support the blocking of various pornographic websites by agencies such as the Media Development Authority, I think more measures should be taken to shield youngsters from undesirable influences on the Internet.

For example, the relevant bodies could promote the use of Web filters at schools, homes and public places. This way, those in charge can adjust the Web exposure levels, depending on the maturity of their charges.

I hope Singaporeans will be more aware of this rising problem and recognise that taking action against it is vital.

Grace Ng (Miss)

This article was first published in The Straits Times.