Getting child safety right

WITH the implementation of the minimum age limit of 16 years for social media usage expected as early as July, experts say the regulatory sandbox currently in place is vital to ensure the measure is effective.

CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said the sandbox programme provides a controlled environment to experiment with and identify the most effective regulatory approaches for child and consumer protection in the digital ecosystem.

“It allows regulators to assess whether current protection methods are still suitable, or whether new regulatory or technical solutions are required,” he said.

At the same time, he added, it facilitates collaboration between government agencies and social media service providers to jointly identify practical, technically feasible solutions.

On Jan 26, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the sandbox initiative is being carried out in line with the Online Safety Act, with discussions already underway with social media platform providers to determine the most suitable approach.

Earlier, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced the rollout of a regulatory sandbox programme from Jan 1 to assess child protection mechanisms and ensure consumer safety in the digital space ahead of full-scale enforcement.

The initiative, he said on Dec 27, would run for several months, and involve the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and several designated social media platforms.

Amirudin said the sandbox enables real-world testing of child safety mechanisms, including age verification processes, automated content moderation and other safety tools, within controlled conditions.

“This allows regulators to observe how these tools function in practice, rather than relying solely on theoretical or static assessments.

“As the sandbox progresses, further insights and observations will emerge to inform subsequent phases of regulatory refinement and implementation,” he added.

On Jan 4, StarEdu reported that harmful content on social media and other online platforms is among the factors leading to the rise in sexual and aggressive violence among local youth.

Parents, said experts, need to spot red flags early in their children, as youth violence is rarely sudden.

Safe surfing

WeProtect Global Alliance executive director Iain Drennan said there is “a kind of disinhibition” where people are more willing to use shocking or offensive language in today’s online culture.

“Sometimes that’s not intended necessarily to harass; it’s more about peer pressure, getting in with a crowd, getting attention, and so on,” he noted.

Although this is happening, Drennan – citing consultations with youth – said they want a respectful, safe environment online where they can enjoy playing games and engaging with their peers.

Unicef Malaysia chief of child protection Saskia Blume said to better protect children online, safety should be designed into platforms, including privacy default settings and easy reporting channels.

“So, safety is not an afterthought,” she said.

Secondly, we need to better equip children to stand up for themselves and stay safe, she added.

“This has to do with supporting parents to have a better relationship with their children, so that children can confide in them as well as teachers.

“Social and emotional learning also needs to be integrated into the curriculum, including empathy and critical thinking,” she said.

Blume stressed that this cannot take place in schools alone, as social and emotional learning starts at home.