Social media age limit a ‘digital seatbelt’ for Malaysian youth

Social media age limit a ‘digital seatbelt’ for Malaysian youth

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of a minimum age of 16 for social media use in the second half of this year has been hailed as a critical “digital safeguard” for the well-being of young people.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) School of Multimedia Technology and Communication dean Associate Professor Dr Mohd Khairie Ahmad said the initiative is a strategic step towards fostering holistic development while ensuring a safer online environment.

He noted that the measure complements the government’s earlier efforts requiring social media platforms to obtain operating licenses starting January 2025, aimed at enhancing service providers’ accountability for user safety.

“This move ensures that social media providers operate more responsibly, prioritising the safety and well-being of their users. Restricting those under 16 from registering or maintaining social media accounts is like a ‘digital seatbelt,’ offering an added layer of protection for young users,” he said.

Dr Mohd Khairie, also a researcher at Universiti Utara Malaysia’s (UUM) Advanced Communication Research Unit (ACRU), said the need for such controls has become increasingly urgent following several tragic incidents involving teenagers influenced by harmful content and unhealthy interactions on social media.

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From a psychological perspective, he explained that the brains of children and early adolescents are still developing and therefore not yet fully equipped to manage impulses or accurately assess long-term risks.

“In other words, children and early teens are highly susceptible to environmental influences due to their heightened neuroplasticity. This makes them vulnerable to negative mental health impacts, cyber victimisation, involvement in online bullying, and potential issues with self-image and low self-esteem,” he said.

To ensure the effectiveness of the policy, he suggested adopting user identity verification technologies (eKYC), similar to systems used in Australia and the European Union, which have proven effective in the banking and telecommunications sectors. He also recommended integrating Malaysia’s MyDigital ID system, which offers strict control measures.

He explained that eKYC would verify users’ identities through identity document scans, facial recognition, and biometric matching, while MyDigital ID could serve as an additional secure mechanism for verifying accounts on social media platforms, providing high levels of control and assurance.

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“Social media platform providers must also take greater responsibility in enforcing this policy. Following Australia’s example, platforms are required to prove that account holders meet the minimum age requirement.

“Failure to enforce age limits can result in heavy fines. In Australia, penalties can reach up to AUD50 million if platforms fail to take reasonable measures to prevent under-16 users from accessing their services,” he said.

Khairie added that the government, social media providers and the telecommunications industry should strengthen digital literacy education for parents and guardians, including awareness campaigns and digital parenting programmes, to ensure the ecosystem fully supports the minimum age policy.

Parents need the knowledge and awareness to avoid unintentionally bypassing restrictions or creating fake accounts for their children, he noted.

Regarding Indonesia, which implemented social media restrictions for children under 16 starting today, he said the move is commendable and worth emulating, though Malaysia will adopt its own approach.

“Malaysia’s age verification is expected to be stricter, initially using eKYC systems, compared with Indonesia’s reliance on a combination of digital identity and AI-based age estimation,” he said.

Indonesia is now the first Asian country to restrict access to high-risk digital platforms for children under 16.