THE government aims to implement the ban on social media accounts for children aged 16 and below starting next year.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil yesterday said the move was aimed at addressing cross-generational cybercrime, including protecting children from sexual predators.
“That was the cabinet’s decision, to prohibit those under 16 from having social media accounts.
“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s directive,” he said after officiating at the closing ceremony of the Cyber Scam Awareness Seminar for the Indian community.
While Fahmi did not specify the proposed mechanism, he said the government was studying measures used in countries like Australia, which will roll out a social media ban for those under 16 next month.
From Dec 10, Australia will deactivate all accounts for users under 16 and prevent them from holding an account until after they turn 16.
The Australian government said this was aimed at pressures and risks that children could be exposed to on social media, including content that can harm their health and well-being.
Canberra said failure to comply would see social media platforms fined up to A$49.5 million.
Fahmi said in addition to the Online Safety Act, coming into force on Jan 1, and the Communications and Multimedia Act, the government was reviewing the implementation of a general age limit, including enforcement mechanisms.
“Different countries take different approaches, but we will study which method is most suitable to ensure that those under 16 are prevented from having social media accounts.”
He added that one mechanism being considered was requiring social media platforms to implement eKYC verification using government-issued documents, such as MyKad, passports and MyDigital ID.
e-KYC, which stands for electronic Know Your Customer, is a digital process for verifying a person’s identity online, using biometric authentication and document verification.
“We expect platforms to be able to implement this by next year.
“I believe that if the government, regulatory bodies and parents all play their roles, we can ensure that the Internet in Malaysia is not only fast, widespread and affordable, but most importantly, safe, especially for children and families.”
He also urged parents not to encourage children under 16 to use social media.
“Encourage them to engage in outdoor activities instead of screen time and supervise their gadget use.”
He announced on July 29 a possible prohibition on social media accounts for children under 13.
On Oct 17, he said the cabinet had discussed the proposal to increase the age limit to 16, in line with measures taken in several countries, including Australia and Indonesia.
The proposal comes amid rising incidents of cyberbullying, sexual harassment and behavioural issues among schoolchildren, often linked to early, unregulated exposure to social media.
Experts had welcomed the move to raise the social media age limit to 16, as well as the implementation of eKYC.
Child rights activist and Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Dr Hartini Zainudin had said mandatory age verification marked a cultural shift.
“It tells global tech companies that Malaysian children are not collateral damage in the race for engagement.”
Several members of parliament had voiced support for the government’s proposal to prohibit social media use for children under 16, citing concerns about their mental and social development.
Julau MP Datuk Larry Soon last month called for the immediate implementation of a minimum age requirement for social media use and account registration.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
