The age restriction rule gives young people the psychological and social space to grow before navigating a digital world where harm can spread in seconds.
SOCIAL media has become a second home for Malaysian teens – a place to learn, laugh and connect. But behind the filters and hashtags lies a darker side of the digital world: online grooming, bullying and exposure to sexual content.
To tackle these growing risks, the government is proposing to tighten age restrictions, pushing for a minimum age of 16 for social media users.
The move, officials say, isn’t about curbing freedom. It’s about providing maximum protection for children and adolescents from online dangers such as grooming, extortion, bullying and exposure to sexual content. The goal is to give young people the psychological and social space to grow before navigating a digital world where harm can spread in seconds.
According to the 2022 Disrupting Harm in Malaysia report by Unicef, Interpol and ECPAT, one in 25 Malaysian children aged 12–17 has experienced online sexual exploitation or abuse.
Nearly 75% of students in a local study admitted to being exposed to pornography, and three in 10 said they had been bullied online.
The effects are real and lasting. Recent school sexual assault cases in Melaka and Kedah revealed how online behaviour can escalate into physical violence – and how quickly images and videos shared online can compound trauma.
Is 16 the right age?
Experts say 16 represents a developmental turning point – when most teens begin to understand consequences and navigate peer pressure more effectively.
Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, chairman of the Positive Parenting Management Committee, says that while it’s hard to define a universal “maturity checklist” for social media readiness, prevention remains key.
He says, “Generally, social media addiction (and withdrawal) and its influence on the young mind have been documented convincingly. Restricting social media use to those above 16 is a good preventive effort so that children can grow up with more face-to-face interaction.”
He notes that Malaysia wouldn’t be alone in this move. “Australia by far has the strictest limit at 16 – similar to what our government is proposing. France and Germany set it at 15 and 14 respectively, while Pakistan and Indonesia are also considering similar restrictions.”
Raising the minimum age also makes enforcement more realistic. With younger children, it’s almost impossible to monitor or verify. At 16, the difference becomes more visible – and more enforceable.
Parenting in the digital age
But laws alone can’t replace parental involvement. “Just as important is being involved in your child’s life and communicating with them constantly,” says Dr Zulkifli. “Children often mirror their parents’ behaviour – if they see parents constantly scrolling, they’ll do the same.”
He cautions that too many parents treat phones as digital babysitters. “Parents have to realise that the phone and social media cannot replace real, wholesome parenting,” he says.
Subtle signs such as mood changes, withdrawal, or sleep disruption can indicate online stress or bullying. “Open communication and trust are key – and these must be built long before problems appear.”
While families play a vital role, experts say tech platforms must shoulder their share of responsibility. For years, the burden of online safety has fallen on parents and teachers – but the companies that profit from these spaces must do more.
Chief executive officer for the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), Mediha Mahmood believes that age verification and safety by design should be core to every platform.
She says, “Social media platforms already have the technology and resources to verify users’ ages more accurately. But implementation must be balanced with privacy and practicality.
“What matters most is that platforms demonstrate reasonable responsibility – building robust, age-appropriate systems that go beyond just a ‘tick-the-box’ age gate and instead consider the full user journey, from onboarding and algorithmic recommendations to parental controls and content moderation.”
She adds that true accountability isn’t about blame, but shared responsibility. “At CMCF, we believe age assurance shouldn’t feel punitive or invasive, but protective – designing digital environments that anticipate the presence of children rather than react to their harm.
“Accountability means industry, regulators and parents working together to make digital spaces genuinely safe and empowering for the young.”
Safety tools and awareness
Having said that, even the best policies fail if people don’t know how to use them. “Many platforms already have useful features – parental controls, content filters, reporting tools – but they’re only effective if parents understand how to activate and manage them,” says Mediha.
Unicef Malaysia’s Child Protection chief Saskia Blume agrees that protection and empowerment must go hand in hand. “Age-appropriate boundaries are important to help children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly,” she says.
“One in three internet users today are children and keeping them safe online should never be an afterthought. Real safety is when protection is built into the very design of digital products and services, including the mobile applications and online platforms they use. Safety by design is essential.”
Blume also says that boundaries alone are not enough, and emphasises education as the strongest form of prevention. “A child who knows how to question what they see online, report abuse and set healthy screen boundaries is far more resilient than one who is simply restricted,” she explains.
“Confident, informed children are children who know how to say no, stand up for themselves and seek help.”
Building a safer digital future
As Malaysia prepares to host the Asean ICT Forum on Child Online Protection this November – co-organised by Unicef, with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Communications Ministry – stakeholders hope to turn this proposal into part of a broader digital safety ecosystem.
Ultimately, the proposed 16-year age rule is about balance – between access and protection, empowerment and caution. It is important to remember that while social media can be a powerful tool for learning and connection, children need time, guidance and real-world grounding before they can use it wisely.
