THE setting of a minimum age of 16 for social media use should not be interpreted as an attempt to restrict children’s access to the digital world, but rather as a structured approach to preparing them for safer and more responsible participation online, according to child rights and policy experts in Malaysia.
Children’s Commissioner Associate Professor Dr Mohd Al Adib Samuri told Bernama that the proposed restriction is intended as a safeguard against early exposure to online risks, including harmful content, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and privacy violations.
He said the policy should be designed as a developmental tool that balances protection with children’s rights to learn and participate in digital spaces in stages.
“A good policy is one that protects children from harm, but at the same time does not deny their rights and freedom to learn, develop and take part in the digital world in stages,” he said.
He added that enforcement should be adapted to Malaysia’s context and aligned with child rights principles, suggesting differentiated approaches based on age, risk level and platform type.
“There may be different approaches depending on age, risk and type of platform. High-risk platforms may be subject to stricter restrictions, but digital spaces that are educational, communicative or supportive of personal development should not be closed off to children,” he said.
CPC Managing Director International Psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, a child psychology specialist, said the age threshold of 16 is reasonable from a developmental perspective, as adolescents at that age typically have stronger abstract thinking abilities and better emotional regulation.
She said this could help reduce risks such as anxiety, depression, stress and social media addiction among younger users, while encouraging healthier offline social interactions.
“It can also encourage healthier relationships with family and friends through physical activities rather than interaction solely on online platforms,” she said.
However, she emphasised that parental involvement remains essential, particularly in granting permission for minors to own devices and access social media.
“We cannot deny children the right to socialise because it is an important element in identity development. When the government and platforms play their role, parents cannot wash their hands of responsibility,” she said.
She also cautioned against overly strict restrictions, warning that children may react negatively if they feel overly controlled.
“At a young age, psychologically children do not like being restricted, so parents can encourage them to engage with beneficial content,” she added.
President of the Malaysian Cyber Consumers Association (MCCA) and consumer cyber advocate Siraj Jalil said any age restriction must be supported by comprehensive digital literacy education from an early stage.
He said digital literacy has become essential as online platforms are now deeply embedded in everyday life.
“Without digital literacy education, we see social media users producing content without sensitivity to others, misusing platform facilities and being unable to distinguish between true and false information,” he said.
He proposed that digital literacy curricula include identity management, cyber threats, device security, source verification, as well as education on risks and misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).
Meanwhile, the President of the National Union of Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBGN), Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan, described the proposed age limit as a progressive step to ensure a safer internet environment.
He said further clarity is needed on how the regulation would be implemented and which platforms would be affected.
“We want to know how the restriction will be implemented and which platforms it will involve, because young people, for example, if they are blocked from platform A, they will find ways to access platforms B and C,” he said.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is currently conducting stakeholder engagement sessions on the proposal.
He said the consultations aim to gather comprehensive feedback and address concerns, while ensuring the government’s primary objective of protecting children and families online is achieved.
He added that implementation of the regulation could begin as early as June. - April 26, 2026
