When Fiction Confronts Reality: What “The Nether” Reminds Us About Protecting Kids Online

A recent Straits Times review of The Nether — a stage production exploring the darker edges of virtual reality and online morality — has stirred uncomfortable but necessary conversations. The play asks a hard question: when does online fantasy stop being “just fiction” and start posing a real danger to our children?

It’s an unsettling piece of theatre, and deliberately so. But beyond the stage, the discomfort points to something real. In Singapore, cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation reported to Child Protective Services have been on the rise since 2020. The line between “virtual” and “real” harm that the play interrogates isn’t just an artistic device — it’s a genuine concern for parents, educators, and caregivers.

The most effective response isn’t discomfort alone — it’s a call to action. Children as young as four can be taught, in age-appropriate ways, to recognise unsafe situations, understand body safety, and know which trusted adults to turn to. This is the foundation of Protective Behaviours, an early-intervention approach used by child protection specialists.

UniLEARN’s course, Teaching Protective Behaviours to Young Children — developed with PAVE, a Singapore Protection Specialist Centre — equips parents, educators, and caregivers with practical tools to teach children ages 4–9 these exact skills, across six core topics including body safety, consent, and early warning signs.

For a hands-on way to bring these lessons to children directly, PAVE and SUSS UniLEARN also co-developed the Garden of Safety Game App — an interactive phone app that helps children learn about body ownership and safe boundaries through guided play with a trusted adult.

Fiction can raise the alarm. Real action is what ensures that our children are protected. What part can we play here?