Sivaselvi
IN an age when digital content consumption among youngsters is at an all-time high, Malaysia’s move to regulate social media platforms through licensing is a step in the right direction, but child safety advocates say regulation alone is not enough.
They warn that without strict oversight and complementary measures like stronger parental involvement and digital literacy programmes, children may still be vulnerable to online risks.
Unicef Malaysia child protection specialist Sivaselvi Supramaniam said regulating through licensing or otherwise is not by itself enough to ensure comprehensive child protection.
“We must ensure that strong child safety protection is built into the digital environment from the start.
“Regulations must also enforce clear standards for child safety. This means requiring industries, including social media platforms, to proactively detect, remove, block and report child sexual abuse materials,” she said.
Debate on the issue was recently ignited when Australia, on Nov 28 last year, passed a law banning social media access for children under 16.
This regulation requires platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5mil (RM138mil).
Though the Malaysian government does not intend to implement the same measures as Australia, it started monitoring social media platforms from Jan 1 this year (see infographic) to ensure that age restriction regulations are being enforced effectively through its regulatory framework.
X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp require users to be at least 13 years old, while Telegram has set its age limit at 16.
This framework (see infographic) requires platforms with at least eight million registered users to obtain an Application Service Provider (ASP) Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The licensing requirement, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), aims to enhance online safety, protect users and strengthen regulation of Internet messaging and social media service providers.
Sivaselvi said the effectiveness of regulating social media use among children through licensing also depends on consistent monitoring and enforcement to hold service providers accountable.
“Additionally, a broader, multifaceted approach is necessary –one that involves collaboration among parents, educators, children, and between the government and industry to create a stronger safety net,” she said.
Noor Azimah
Parents must step up
Although licensing social media platforms is a significant step, parents must also play an active role in ensuring their children’s safety online, said Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
One of the main concerns raised, she said, is that children may find ways to bypass age restrictions, making parental involvement crucial.
“Tech giants could get the help of parents to verify age to ensure that content is either age-appropriate or not at all,” she said, adding that parental controls such as screen time limits, restricted access to certain content, and real-time monitoring of online interactions are essential tools in this effort.
Echoing this, Sivaselvi emphasised the importance of parental involvement and urged parents to be more engaged in their children’s digital lives.
“Educators, parents and caregivers should remain vigilant for any warning signs, seek expert help when needed, and assist children in accessing the appropriate services,” she said.
As digital threats constantly evolve, parents may struggle to keep up with new risks related to cyberbullying, online grooming and inappropriate content, said Noor Azimah.
“Parents must take an active role by setting boundaries on device usage, engaging in meaningful conversations about online responsibility, and fostering trust with their children,” she said, adding that this means having open discussions about the dangers of the Internet, setting clear expectations for behaviour, and educating children on safe digital practices.
Digital literacy
Educating children on safe Internet usage, privacy protection, and recognising online threats can help them navigate the digital space responsibly, Sivaselvi asserted.
She pointed out that globally, advances in digital technology have had a positive impact on children’s lives, with the potential to significantly contribute to the realisation of children’s rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), including the right to express their views (Article 12), freedom of expression (Article 13), information (Article 17), education (Article 28), and participation in artistic and cultural activities (Article 31).
“However, children today are at risk of identity theft, violations of personal data and privacy, harassment, radicalisation, and sexual exploitation,” she said.
Given that an estimated 100,000 Malaysian children aged 12 to 17 have experienced online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), the urgency for stricter regulatory measures cannot be overstated, she added.
“This alarming statistic demonstrates that regulatory measures must be paired with education, parental engagement and stronger industry accountability,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of equipping children with digital literacy and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), Sivaselvi emphasised that educators, parents caregivers and industry professionals should be equipped with the tools and knowledge to understand and address the potential mental health implications of OCSEA.
“CSE helps children recognise risks, set personal boundaries and respond to inappropriate behaviour, while digital literacy programmes empower them to navigate online spaces safely.
“Social media influencers should also be engaged to promote evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support information,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Noor Azimah emphasised the importance of awareness campaigns to educate both children and parents.
“Awareness campaigns are crucial to get the attention of schools and parents, especially through mainstream media,” she said, adding that social media can help spread information about digital safety and responsible Internet usage.
“Some parents may not be tech-savvy enough to monitor their children, making it crucial for awareness campaigns to provide them with the necessary knowledge and tools to help them educate their kids to navigate online risks effectively,” she explained.
Sivaselvi said public awareness campaigns must focus on the dangers of OCSEA.
“The government should lead programmes that teach children about consent, personal boundaries, recognising inappropriate behaviour, and the risks and responsibilities associated with creating and sharing sexual images,” she stressed.
Additionally, she advocated for helplines and hotlines to be strengthened, ensuring that children and young people affected by online exploitation can seek specialised assistance.
“Protecting children online is not just the responsibility of industry or governments – it’s a shared duty.
“By working together, we can make Malaysia’s digital landscape safer for every child,” she said.
Collective responsibility
As messaging and social media services become increasingly integrated into children’s lives, Sivaselvi said digital service providers too bear significant responsibility in shaping the content that children access and share.
“These companies hold vast amounts of data on young users, which can be used either to enhance their safety or, if mismanaged, expose them to risks,” she said.
Citing the International Telecommunications Union Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection (2020), the 5Rights Foundation’s Child Online Safety Toolkit, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard for an Age-Appropriate Digital Services Framework Based on the 5Rights Principles for Children (IEEE Std 2089-2021), she recommended that digital service providers adopt a range of tools and safety features to create a more secure online environment for children.
These guidelines, she said, call on platforms to offer differentiated accounts for children, ensuring that age-appropriate content and interactions are maintained.
“Search engines, social media platforms, gaming services and other digital spaces commonly accessed by children should include developmentally appropriate modes that filter out harmful content.
“To prioritise child safety, platforms should set the most secure privacy and safety levels by default,” she said, adding that this includes making visibility settings private, disabling geolocation, and limiting engagement-driven features like auto-play, push notifications, and random reward systems that encourage prolonged screen time.
Platforms, she said, must also ensure that profiling and recommender algorithms do not expose children to harmful content, providing transparency about how these systems work and the data used in decision-making.
“Additionally, digital service providers must present their terms and conditions in a format that is easily understood by children.
“Mechanisms should be in place for young users and their parents to report inappropriate content, breaches of platform rules, or online abuse,” she added.
On parental controls, she said it should be both intuitive and effective, allowing parents to monitor their children’s screen time, interactions, and the type of content they are exposed to.
“However, these controls must also respect children’s evolving digital independence and privacy.
“Clear guidance should accompany these tools to help parents understand their capabilities and limitations.
“With respect to age verification, online service providers need to implement appropriate and proportionate age assurance measures, using methods that are consistent with the principle of data minimisation and children’s right to privacy,” she said, adding that by implementing these measures, digital service providers can play a more proactive role in safeguarding children online.
Noor Azimah also highlighted the need for an independent watchdog that is clear in its objectives and not beholden to any party, ensuring that Malaysia’s social media licensing efforts are effective and enforceable.
Without independent oversight, she warned, regulatory efforts risk being inconsistent.
“This reinforces the idea that regulating social media requires a collective effort – not just from the government, but also from independent bodies, industry stakeholders, parents and educators working together to uphold digital safety standards,” she concluded.
March
> Network service providers to provide parental control tools for monitoring use of social media by children below 12
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said this was necessary as the minimum age requirement to sign up on social media platforms is insufficient to curb children from using them.
July
> Social media and online messaging platforms with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a Application Service Provider (ASP) Class License under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998
The new regulatory framework on social media services and Internet messaging services will be introduced from Aug 1, 2025.
Dec
> Malaysia to focus on regulating platforms through licensing, rather than introducing new age-limit laws for social media users, said Fahmi
MCMC will take extra measures on social media platforms that violate the age restrictions from Jan 1, 2025.
2025
Jan
> Platforms that do not obtain a license face potential legal action
March
> Meta, X (previously Twitter) and Google have yet to obtain application service provider (ASP) class licences for their social media platforms
TikTok, WeChat, and Telegram have obtained their social media licenses.
> MCMC to push for Meta, whose platforms include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, to verify advertiser identities.
Source: Media reports
MCMC regulatory framework for Internet messaging and social media service providers in Malaysia
Licensed platforms must:
Protect user data
♦ Protect child safety, including restricting any users under 13
♦ Address online harm including cyberbullying, online scams, and sexual grooming activities
♦ Promote advertisement transparency and restrict advertisement promoting scams
♦ Safeguard minors from harmful content and misleading advertisements
♦ Simplify complaint procedures for users and response time
♦ Manage deepfakes and harmful artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content
♦ Regular reporting measures on service providers’ compliance with Malaysian laws and the conduct requirements
Implications:
♦ Platforms which operate without a licence beginning Jan 1, 2025, may face fines not more than RM500,000 or five years imprisonment or both.
♦ Platforms may also be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 for every day or a part of a day during which the offence is continued after conviction.
Actions:
♦ MCMC can take action against any licensed service provider for any breach of licence conditions or conduct.
♦ Should such breaches occur, MCMC will assess the nature of the violation including its severity, impact, and frequency as well as the compliance record of said service provider in deciding the appropriate action against them.
♦ In such circumstances, MCMC can initiate actions ranging from an administrative warning, issuance of compliance direction to rectify the breach, impose a civil penalty or compound offences to proportionately deal with the breach.
♦ MCMC can suspend access to the service provider’s platform; deregister the licence or commence prosecution if violation is severe and grave nature.
Source: mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf2/FAQ-for-Regulatory-Framework.pdf
