KUCHING: Support is growing among parents and teachers for the government’s proposal to set 16 as the minimum age for social media use to help shield children from negative online influences.
The proposal comes as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) explores several methods to verify users’ ages across all social media platforms ahead of the enforcement of the new minimum age later this year.
Nur Farhana Fuad, 26, a primary school teacher, said she agrees with the proposal, as it can help protect younger children and encourage them to focus more on their studies and personal development during their formative years.
“At a young age, children are still developing emotionally and mentally, and social media can expose them to various negative influences such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and unhealthy comparisons,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
She added that some students pick up slang or curse words from online platforms, which can affect their communication.
“From what I observe as a teacher, some students are easily influenced by what they see or hear on social media, including the use of inappropriate language during discussions.
“For example, students sometimes use slang or curse words which they likely pick up online.
“With proper age verification, it may help reduce early exposure to unsuitable content and encourage healthier communication among young users,” she added.
Nur Farhana also said that enforcement may be challenging, as children could bypass verification systems by entering false information or using accounts belonging to others.
“Because of this, authorities and platforms may need to work together to strengthen verification systems.
“At the same time, introducing child-friendly platforms such as YouTube Kids could also help provide safer and more controlled online environments for younger users,” she said.
On the role of parents, teachers, and schools, she said they should monitor children’s online activities, teach responsible digital behaviour, and incorporate digital literacy and online safety into lessons to help students understand the impact of their words and actions online.
Echoing her views, 54-year-old secondary school teacher Dayang Norkiah is also supportive as teenagers aged 16 are generally mature enough to differentiate right from wrong.
She cautioned, however, that age verification alone cannot guarantee full protection, as children today are familiar with social media and may find ways around restrictions.
“Children and teenagers are naturally curious and often come up with various ways to do things or take actions online that are unexpected, especially on social media.
“Implementing age verification on social media platforms requires ongoing effort, and strong cooperation from parents is highly encouraged,” she said.
However, achieving this cooperation remains a challenge.
“Many parents or communities hold steadfast views on social media use, and with busy work schedules, children are often left under the care of guardians who may struggle to monitor or control their online activities effectively.
“Enforcing an age limit may be most effective for the new generation, especially when parents truly understand the negative impacts of social media on children and are willing to make sacrifices for their well-being,” she added.
She outlined the role of parents in monitoring social media use, such as setting access limits to weekends or designated times, while teachers guide students on healthy and educational uses.
“Through school subjects, students can learn about the negative effects of social media on health, work, and other aspects if it is not used wisely.
“Parents can also dedicate a little extra time, especially on weekends, to engage in healthy activities with their children, such as reading together or exercising,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zafran Saripudin, 35, a public servant and father of two young children, expressed his support for the minimum age proposal.
“I think setting 16 as the minimum age is a good idea. My children are still very young, and I worry about them being exposed to things online that they don’t understand or aren’t ready for,” he said.
When asked whether age verification would help protect children, Zafran noted that while it might help somewhat, children are clever and can still find ways around restrictions.
“From my own experience, I’ve noticed that children can pick up both positive and negative things online.
“For example, they learn fun DIY crafts, educational games, or simple cooking tips, but they also pick up bad habits, swearing they hear from online games, copying risky challenges from TikTok, or mimicking rude language they see in social media trends,” he said.
He added that age verification is a step, but parents still need to supervise.
“Children can use parents’ accounts or borrow friends’ phones, so enforcement is tricky. Plus, there are so many social media apps and platforms; making sure the rules are applied consistently is a big challenge.
“For me, it’s very important to guide my children and set clear rules about what they can and cannot do online. I also try to talk to them about the content they see.
“Schools can play a big role too, by teaching digital literacy and helping children understand what is safe and appropriate,” he added.
Similarly, 32-year-old Umi Salamah, who guides 20 nieces and nephews, also supported the proposal.
“Setting a minimum age of 16 is a good step to protect children from inappropriate content and risks such as cyberbullying.
“At this age, teenagers are also more mature to use social media responsibly,” she said.
She agreed that age verification could help but acknowledged it is not foolproof and may be less effective if users falsify their age.
“The main challenges are the difficulty of verifying users’ true age, data privacy issues, and the authorities’ difficulty in monitoring social media usage involving a large number of users,” she said.
