KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) — A spike in concerning social incidents involving school students last year has heightened parental fears over child safety, pushing the government to launch a regulatory ‘sandbox’ trial programme effective Jan 1.
The trial, a collaboration between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and major platforms, is designed to assess existing technical capabilities and refine regulatory controls in a contained setting before a nationwide rollout.
Unlike Australia, which is moving towards an outright ban for under-16s, Malaysia’s strategy is not one of prohibition. Instead, the focus is on strengthening and clarifying age verification systems to ensure robust enforcement.
Endorsing the measured approach, child clinical psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli called it an important long-term safeguard to protect young people from being overwhelmed by harmful digital content.
“We do not want to add to the statistics on stress, anxiety, screen addiction and exposure to inappropriate video content for children under 16,” she told Bernama.
The rise of social media addiction among children and adolescents is alarming. Recent studies show that nine in ten children now have social media accounts and average a staggering eight hours a day on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
Adding to the concern, a 2020 UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) report, Our Lives Online, revealed that 91 per cent of Malaysian teenagers aged 13 to 17 are daily internet users, and 70 per cent have already encountered harmful content online.
Noor Aishah clarified that solving this crisis extends beyond government regulation. She stressed that laws will have a limited impact without proactive parental support in the home to monitor, guide, and foster digital literacy.
“The greatest danger is passing a law but seeing no real change in behaviour. Children learn by watching and imitating, not just by being told what to do. If parents are constantly glued to their phones, kids see that as normal and copy it,” she explained.
“Parents must lead by example through their own discipline. Show them how to balance screen time, and they will follow. Effective control starts at home, naturally,” she concludes.
Expanding on the call for proactive solutions, National Futsal Fitness coach Syafique Faudzil champions organised sport as a powerful antidote to social media’s passive hold.
The Kolej Poly-Tech MARA sports science lecturer believes that channelling teenagers’ time into sports can actively build discipline, goal-setting skills and healthier mental well-being.
“Cutting back on social media isn’t just about limiting harm; it directly translates to better sports performance. When you reclaim those hours, you create real opportunities for meaningful, physical engagement,” he said.
Syafique highlighted that sports forge a stronger sense of self. By stepping into defined roles, such as a team captain, and learning to navigate frustration under a coach’s guidance, young people develop emotional resilience and a clear personal identity.
“This builds authentic self-worth and purpose. It’s the opposite of the passive, algorithm-driven experience on social media,” he added.
Ultimately, he notes, this shift away from digital dependency can sharpen a teenager’s focus and motivation, boosting performance not only on the field but also in the classroom and beyond.
— BERNAMA