Malaysians have social media platform favourites

YOUTUBE, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook were the most used social media platforms by Malaysians over the recent years, says Fahmi Fadzil.

“For the period between 2020 and 2022, the most used platforms were used by Malaysians interchangeably.

“Those with the highest yearly standing were YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook,” the Communications and Digital Minister said in a written reply to a question raised by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah).

Fahmi said YouTube held the top spot out of 10 platforms in 2020 and 2021, before it was overtaken by WhatsApp last year.

In 2022, WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram were the most used social media platforms.

Under the list, Telegram was the fourth most used last year, followed by FB messenger and TikTok.

Also widely used by Malaysians were Twitter, which was seventh on the 2022 list, followed by WeChat, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said his ministry and the Communications and Multimedia Commission had drafted a content code through the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF).

The code is based on the best practices and ethics for content creation and management, which is primarily used by industry players as reference.

This code is also referred to by content creators, advertisers, social media influencers and consumers.

“CMCF’s jurisdiction and enforcement of the code does not cover foreign service providers such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others.

“This does not mean that social media operates without any legal supervision.

“Anything illegal offline is (still) illegal online,” he said.

“Social media content is still governed by the respective laws of the country. Pornographic, false or ‘disgusting’ materials are prohibited under the Communications and Multimedia Act.”