THE government’s announcement of a social media ban for users under 16 from next year, under the new Online Safety Act 2025 and its subsidiary regulations, has been welcomed by many parents who are understandably worried about what their children see and experience online.
As a Malaysian who appreciates these efforts yet is concerned about their long-term impact, I believe we are tackling the right problem but risk relying too heavily on a single tool.
Online harms in Malaysia are serious and growing. PDRM and Home Ministry data show tens of thousands of online fraud and scam cases each year, with losses estimated at more than RM2.7 bil in the first 11 months of 2025 alone.
Children and teenagers also face cyberbullying, predatory behaviour, and illegal content. A regional UNICEF-supported study found that one in 25 Malaysian children aged 12 to 17 has experienced some form of online sexual exploitation or abuse, yet few feel confident using existing reporting channels.
Against this backdrop, it is understandable that policymakers want firm measures. The Online Safety Act 2025, MCMC’s work on ten subsidiary laws, and public campaigns such as Kempen Internet Selamat are important steps that deserve recognition. Parents need assurance that the government is not ignoring the worst excesses of the online world.
However, a blanket age-based ban enforced mainly through electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) checks should not become the centrepiece of our strategy. International experience suggests that determined teenagers often find ways around rigid bans, such as using parents’ phones, shared accounts, or alternative platforms.
At the same time, strict age verification can create new privacy risks if identification documents or biometric data are not handled with the highest safeguards.
Online harms also do not affect only children. Scam data shows that young adults, working professionals, and retirees are being targeted through messaging apps, e-commerce platforms, and investment schemes. A strategy focused only on under-16s may leave too many others exposed.
A holistic approach to online safety should rest on several reinforcing pillars. First, platforms must be held accountable not only for removing illegal content but also for product design.
Under the new codes of practice, service providers should incorporate safer defaults for minors, provide effective parental tools, invest in moderation in Bahasa Malaysia and other local languages, and be transparent about how their algorithms amplify certain content.
Parents also have a role to play. They need to take precautions and monitor their children’s online activities. In a digital world, it can be tempting to allow early and unstructured exposure to devices, but this must be balanced with proper guidance.
Digital literacy should be treated as a core life skill. Schools, supported by the Education Ministry, MCMC and NGOs, can integrate age-appropriate modules on online behaviour, scams, consent, and digital citizenship, while community programmes can help parents who may feel less confident than their children.
Enforcement and victim support must also keep pace. While the authorities have increased takedowns and improved reporting channels, many victims still feel they must navigate complex processes on their own, and that syndicates operate with impunity.
Stronger coordination between the police, Bank Negara, telcos, platforms, and regional partners is essential, alongside clear avenues for counselling and legal aid.
Finally, children and young people should be part of the conversation. Policies designed without listening to their lived experiences of cyberbullying, body image pressures, or online learning risk losing credibility.
International human rights groups have reminded Malaysia that new restrictions must be balanced with freedom of expression and access to information, particularly for older teenagers who rely on the internet for education, civic participation, and support networks.
Malaysia is right to make online safety a national priority. But if we want lasting change, the under-16 social media ban should be seen as one component of a broader, evidence-based framework rather than a silver bullet.
A layered approach that combines smarter platform regulation, stronger action against scammers, investment in digital literacy and mental health support, and genuine engagement with families and young people will better reflect the complexities of the digital world our children are growing up in. ‒ Dec 12, 2025
Joseph Muthusamy is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Tech Wire Asia
