PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will work with social media platforms to regulate the issue of social media use among children below 13, says Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
“At this moment, social media platforms leave account registration to users fully, without any way of proving their age met the necessary requirements. The Communications Ministry has had a series of meetings with platform providers such as Meta and Tiktok to discuss ways to tackle the issue of social media ownership among children under 13,” she said when contacted.
The MCMC will work closely with social media platforms to prevent the setting up of accounts by children under 13, as well as shutting down the social media accounts owned by children under 13,” she added.
She added that, at this juncture, most social media platforms do not allow children below 13 to utilise these platforms.
“As the Deputy Minister of Communications, and a mother myself, ensuring the safety of children under 13 in the online space is a top priority,” she said.
“The MCMC regulates the communications and multimedia industry and has introduced the ‘Klik Dengan Bijak’ (KDB) Programme to educate and raise awareness among all users, including parents and guardians, about safe and positive use of the Internet. This includes the provision that children under 13 are not allowed to own social media accounts.
“While there are no specific laws or regulations currently that directly address children’s access to social media platforms, there are provisions in various pieces of legislation that deal with child protection, such as the Penal Code, the Sexual Offences against Children Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, the Child Act, as well as the Computer Crimes Act,” she added.
Aside from that, there are also suitable provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia’s (CMCF) Content Code which advises on suitable content targeted to children.
On her advice to parents, Teo said they could actively engage with their children on their online activities, establish clear rules and boundaries on Internet usage, have open communication and lead by example.
Parents too, she said, should educate themselves about privacy settings and safety features on platforms used by their children and use parental control tools provided by these platforms.
“Additionally, parents have to stay informed about the latest trends and risks in the online world so that they can guide children towards responsible and safe online behaviour,” she said.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching children how to navigate the digital landscape securely and responsibly. However, by staying engaged and informed, parents can help their children develop the necessary skills to make informed decisions online and stay safe in the digital age,” she added.
