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The use of social media has become a part of daily life from children to adults. However, technological advances have raised various user safety issues, especially for children.
Countries such as Australia and Indonesia have begun to take proactive steps by streamlining the legal aspects of limiting access to social media platforms to underage users, especially children. However, Malaysia still does not have such a plan.
The Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil, stated the need for in-depth research into the psychological effects and differences in access to information between children and adolescents. This is because the use of social media among children, especially students, usually involves the purpose of learning and obtaining information.
Fahmi said that currently, the minimum age limit for users is still based on the terms and conditions and community guidelines set by social media platforms. Most of them set an age limit of 13 years to comply with data protection and user safety regulations as followed by many other countries. He also asked parents and guardians to take more serious responsibility in monitoring the activities of their children.