Malaysia Eyes Under-13 Social Media Ban
The Malaysian Ministry of Communications is examining stricter enforcement measures, including a potential ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 13. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the initiative in Parliament on 29 July, highlighting a growing concern over children’s online safety.
Minister Fahmi observed that while most social media platforms already have age restrictions preventing users under 13 from creating accounts, these rules are frequently circumvented. He stated that if one were to ask students under 13 in any school whether they have TikTok accounts, many would confirm they do, which is a breach of terms acknowledged even by TikTok.
The ministry is actively exploring various methods to enhance the enforcement of these age restrictions, emphasising that online child protection is a collective responsibility involving the government, social media platforms, and parents.
In a related disclosure, Datuk Fahmi revealed that between 1 January and 15 July, a total of 1,443 pieces of harmful or extreme content targeting children were removed by service providers. These removals were initiated following requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) due to violations of both the Communications and Multimedia Act and the respective platform’s community guidelines.
In addition to enforcement, the ministry is also focusing on digital education. Mr. Fahmi announced the rollout of new digital literacy modules specifically designed for teenagers aged 13 and above, aimed at equipping them with the skills to navigate the complexities of the digital environment responsibly.
