THE Government has introduced a new #ThinkTwice Parents’ Guide aimed at helping families better safeguard teenagers in the digital sphere, following a collaboration between TikTok, the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
TikTok said the guide forms part of its ongoing #ThinkTwice digital literacy campaign, which promotes a community-based and evidence-driven approach to online safety.
The initiative emphasises shared responsibility among parents, digital platforms and policymakers, while upholding the rights of young people to access information, express views, protect their privacy and enjoy freedom of thought.
Content Forum Chief Executive Officer Mediha Mahmood said teenagers’ digital wellbeing is strongly shaped by the home environment, arguing that healthy online behaviour stems from a supportive family culture.
“Online safety should not mean restricting teenagers’ access to digital spaces. The Internet merely reflects social issues in the real world.
“Culture is shaped by the community, and good habits start at home. We must empower parents to nurture creativity while instilling caution, encouraging healthy routines, and fostering meaningful conversations with their teenage children,” she said.
TikTok’s Head of Public Policy for Malaysia, Firdaus Fadzil, noted that while challenges such as bullying, peer pressure, mental health issues, and risky behaviour are not new, the role of parents remains fundamental.
“Parents and guardians are the primary guides because they are closest to and understand the needs of their children. Therefore, we aim to empower parents with knowledge and tools to foster a responsible digital generation so that our teenagers are better prepared to navigate the Internet safely,” he said.
He added that the #ThinkTwice guide enables parents to take an active role by utilising TikTok’s integrated safety features, which are aligned with findings from global research on online wellbeing.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated that the guide complements its ongoing Internet Selamat campaign and supports the government’s broader initiative to create a safer and more accountable digital ecosystem.
According to MCMC, platforms such as TikTok play a crucial role in protecting users while respecting children’s rights to access age-appropriate information and express themselves, reflecting Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening online safety standards.
“Initiatives such as #ThinkTwice equip families with practical tools, guidance, and awareness so that teenagers in Malaysia can explore, learn, and connect online with confidence and safety,” it said.
The guide introduces three core recommendations for strengthening teen digital safety. It urges parents to supervise online activity using Family Pairing, which allows them to link their accounts to their teenager’s, monitor uploads and track usage through the Screen Time Dashboard.
TikTok also automatically assigns private accounts to users under sixteen and prohibits accounts for children under thirteen in line with its Safety by Design principles.
Parents are encouraged to tailor settings to suit the needs of their children, including screen-time limits, notification preferences, account visibility, direct messaging controls and content frequency adjustments via the Manage Topics feature.
The guide also calls on families to initiate open conversations about digital literacy by discussing trends, risks and uncomfortable online experiences, helping teenagers understand how to block accounts, submit reports and interact safely.
Through the #ThinkTwice knowledge hub, parents can access reference materials on scam prevention, mental wellbeing and digital literacy to further support teenagers in developing sound judgement as they navigate the online world. - November 21, 2025
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