KUCHING: Malaysia’s plan to ban children under 16 from opening social media accounts carries both advantages and challenges, says Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.
Acknowledging that several countries have already implemented similar restrictions, he said Malaysia could follow suit.
“Several countries have banned access to the internet for those under 16, especially certain apps. We can do that too.
“It’s a good thing. We don’t want young people wasting time online. But, of course, there are pros and cons to this approach,” he told a press conference in conjunction with the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results held here today (Mar 31).
Sagah also noted that social media offers educational benefits.
“It’s not all nonsense on the internet. There’s a lot of good too, provided it’s used properly and for improving knowledge,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that enforcing the ban could be challenging.
“A 10-year-old can put their age as 20. How would we verify that? It’s just like a thief—once a thief, always a thief. You don’t know how. But reducing access to programs that are not useful for the younger generation is certainly a good thing,” he added.
The ban is part of the upcoming Online Safety Act, which aims to protect youth from cyberbullying and online harm. The initiative is expected to require age verification through official IDs such as MyKad or passports (e-KYC). Implementation is anticipated as early as 2026, with some measures rolling out from July.
