The government announced on Friday that it was considering raising the age limit for social media to 16 to curb online harms on children, plus a possible smartphone ban for children under 16.
Child A.C.T. founder Amnani A Kadir said that while the proposed age limit was a positive and timely step, incorporating digital citizenship would further strengthen efforts to ensure children’s online safety.
She said studies had shown that early exposure to harmful content, such as pornography, violence, fake news and online grooming, could hurt children’s brain development and mental health.
“The age limit gives time for kids to develop their digital and critical thinking skills to gauge if content is real or fake.
“Thus, digital citizenship classes before 16 are a good idea and it has to be part of the school curriculum. Tech and the internet are now a basic right everywhere, so we need to educate our kids on how to use this powerful tool instead of letting ads and algorithms shape their minds,” she told FMT.
Several countries already teach digital citizenship in schools. In Australia, it is built into subjects like Digital Technologies and Media Arts, while the United Kingdom’s Education for a Connected World framework trains students to think critically, protect privacy, and spot false information.
Saudi Arabia has also begun piloting digital citizenship lessons in primary schools, though full rollout is still under way.
Need for a broader approach
P.S. the Children founder Madeleine Yong said a broader approach was needed to deal with school violence and online harm.
“School violence comes from years of unmet needs like poor mental health and teacher burnout. The new task force is timely, but real change requires listening to what those on the ground already know,” she said, referring to the special committee formed to probe the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old girl at a school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.
“True reform means investing in trauma-informed training, mental health support, and embedding child protection into every Safer School policy.”
Children’s Protection Society KL vice-chairman Nawiza Ariff said age checks could help reduce children’s exposure to harmful sites and games, but warned that enforcement alone would not work.
“Yes, verification helps reduce exposure to things like paedophilia or violent content. But children are clever. They can fake their age to get into these (social media) platforms. Parents must still guide and monitor closely,” she said.
Engaging the stakeholders
Nawiza said schools and NGOs should also hold digital literacy and parenting sessions so adults can better understand online risks.
“Everything starts from home. Parents must sit, listen, and guide their children. They need time and attention,” she said.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chief children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki said the government should not rely solely on bans or age limits.
She also urged Putrajaya to define what counts as social media, ensure the 16-year age limit is research-based, and also consult children before introducing any new policy.
“Digital resilience is more important than digital restriction. Other interventions are vital too. Emotional literacy and psychosocial support systems must be strengthened. The age limit cannot be the only solution,” she said.