PETALING JAYA: Parents should expect a period of adjustment when the nationwide social media ban for children under 16 comes into force tomorow and focus on helping young people find meaningful alternatives to screen time, say mental health experts.
Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan, who is principal counsellor at Heart Talk Ventures, a mental health service provider, said one of the most important steps parents can take is to talk with their children about the new law and the reasons behind it.
“The first thing parents need to do is talk to the children, make sure they understand that this is law and it’s bigger than them, and there are certain reasons for it.”
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Dr Anasuya said the legislation is important because social media can expose children to serious risks during their formative years.
“Please make sure your home is safe. The law is very important to protect children because social media allows strangers into your child’s rooms, into their private spaces,” she said.
She believes children may adapt more quickly, especially when the restrictions apply to everyone in the same age group.
“When the law is applicable to everybody, then none of their friends will be able to go online as well.
“(Parents) should have a conversation; talking to them will start the preparation process. And if parents are not used to talking to their children, this may be a good time to get used to it.”
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She added that if children display severe withdrawal symptoms, parents may need to examine broader family dynamics.
“If your children are showing serious signs of withdrawal, you probably have more issues rather than just the fact that they are spending too much time online.
“Family interactions, family systems and relationships between family members all come into question if kids are having such serious signs of withdrawal, because then you’ve got an addiction,” she said.
Eve Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre general manager of operations Rozana Anthony said parents should first understand why their children use social media before introducing alternatives.
“For some, social media is a source of friendship and belonging while for others it provides entertainment, learning opportunities, creative expression or simply a way to unwind after school.”
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Rozana said children should be encouraged to discuss what they enjoy about social media and what they feel they may lose once access is restricted.
Rather than simply removing social media, she recommended replacing it with activities that meet similar emotional and developmental needs, such as reading, sports, creative hobbies, volunteering and community programmes.
“The goal is not to remove social media, but to replace it with meaningful alternatives that continue to stimulate curiosity, learning, and self-expression,” she said.
She also advised parents to watch for signs, such as irritability, persistent boredom, withdrawal from family and friends, anxiety about missing out on social interactions, excessive attempts to access restricted platforms and increased dependence on other forms of screen use.
