KUALA LUMPUR — Parents of children under 16 have been urged to help their young ones cope with a potential "culture shock" when a ban on social media for the age group is enforced next year.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon stressed that parental guidance is crucial to help teenagers who have grown up steeped in digital communication, manage with changes that comes with the enforcement.
"Many children today are raised in households where technology was used to pacify them or keep them occupied.
"As a result, they grew up reliant on social media as their primary mode of interaction. Parents need to understand that managing this transition is their responsibility," Fouzi was quoted telling Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Children must instead continue engaging in healthy activities such as sports and social gatherings to ensure their mental and social development is not disrupted, he added.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil previously announced that government will prohibit children aged 16 and below from having their own social media accounts from next year, to protect them from online harm.
An identity verification system will be introduced next year to enable media platforms to detect underage users/
The portal also spoke to Malaysia Psychiatrist Association member Dr Ahmad Rostam Zin, who said teenagers who have developed online alter ages are likely to be the most affected by the ban.
He warned that parents should be prepared for elements of "rebellion and aggression" when the ban kicks in, and that some teenagers may attempt to "beat the system" to continue maintaining their online presence.
Australia recently became the first country in the world to enforce a social media ban for children under 16. Platforms covered by the ban include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and YouTube.
Under the legislation, the responsibility for compliance lies entirely with technology companies, not parents or children. Companies that fail to enforce the age restriction face substantial fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million). However, no penalties apply to minors who bypass the age restrictions or to their parents. — December 21, 2025
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