The communications ministry is exploring measures to regulate social media use among minors. According to its deputy minister Teo Nie Ching, the government is currently reviewing Australia’s proposed plan to ban social media usage for children under 16 by the end of 2025, as well as France’s parental consent requirement for children under 15 to access such platforms.
Teo acknowledged the complexity of enforcement during a Dewan Negara session on 19 December. She highlighted practical challenges, such as ensuring children under restricted ages do not download social media apps and determining accountability if violations occur. “Who do we penalise? The parents, the children, or the platform providers?” she asked, stressing that thorough evaluation is needed before any decision is made.
She noted that studies reveal half of Malaysian teenagers aged 13 to 17 spend an average of three hours daily on their phones, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility from parents, teachers, and regulatory bodies to address this phenomenon. Regarding age limits, Teo pointed out that most social media platforms set 13 years as the minimum user age in their community guidelines. She reiterated that parents play a significant role in monitoring their children’s digital activities.
Meanwhile, comms minister Fahmi Fadzil echoed similar concerns while addressing the enforcement of platform age restrictions. Starting 1 January 2025, Malaysia will implement a licensing framework for social media platforms, ensuring compliance with existing age policies. He underlined the government’s reliance on platforms to enforce their own guidelines but stated that additional measures could be introduced if their enforcement proves inadequate.
“We want to see how they enforce their age restrictions,” Fahmi said during a press conference at the Perak Economic Outlook 2025 Programme. “If they fail or if enforcement is unsatisfactory, we will consider further action.”
Fahmi also emphasised the importance of policy stability and the government’s commitment to freedom of expression. He clarified that the government does not intend to curtail freedom of speech but aims to prevent misuse of platforms, particularly by criminal elements.
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