KUALA LUMPUR: Several Members of Parliament have expressed support for the government's proposal to ban social media use for children under age 16 to protect their mental and social development.
The proposal follows concerns over the rising incidents of cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and discipline problems among schoolchildren, which are often linked to early, unregulated exposure to social media.
Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien (PBM-Julau) called for the immediate implementation of a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media use and account registration.
He pointed out that countries like Australia have already taken action, imposing a ban on social media access for children under 16 starting December this year, with similar measures also adopted by the United Kingdom, Norway, and other developed nations.
"Children as young as 10 are being exposed to harmful content, such as pornography, violence, hate speech, and defamation, with little to no control.
"These issues are largely caused by social media, which is having a detrimental impact on our children's mental health," he said during the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget 2026) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 23).
Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) also weighed in, suggesting the need for a proper mechanism to restrict social media use for those under 16.
"We must establish a reliable age verification system to prevent users from falsifying their age when creating accounts.
"Social media platforms must also be held accountable for managing their content, ensuring that their platforms remain free from violent material, fraud, bullying, explicit content, and other online crimes," she said.
She stressed that recent high-profile criminal cases, including rape and murder, should serve as a wake-up call for all members of society.
This sentiment was echoed by several other MPs, including Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) and Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani), who also called for stricter control of social media usage and content for children.
Meanwhile, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin (PN-Pagoh) proposed the development of a comprehensive character education plan aimed at cultivating balanced personalities in students, in line with the National Education Philosophy.
He said this educational plan must address current challenges, including the influence of social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and mental health, which all play a role in shaping students' minds and characters.
"It's time for the government, particularly the Education Ministry, to review the existing system and identify the root causes and potential solutions to these issues," he said.
The sitting continues on Monday. - Bernama
