SHAH ALAM – Today’s content exposure landscape has undergone a fundamental shift, making regulatory efforts increasingly challenging in a borderless digital era.
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) President Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin, said paid streaming platforms such as Netflix still require subscriptions and account controls to access certain content, unlike open social media platforms that allow sensitive material to be reached directly.
He said platforms such as TikTok and X enable users to access high-risk content simply through keyword searches or specific hashtags, significantly increasing exposure without prior filtering.
“These developments make content regulation increasingly challenging, particularly in ensuring adequate protection for children and adolescents.
“ABIM stresses that the open nature of social media causes the ‘normalisation of values’ to occur more aggressively compared with traditional streaming platforms,” he told Sinar.
He explained that short-form content, simple visuals and emotionally charged clips spread easily and are further amplified by algorithms, creating impact even when the material is not explicitly explicit.
He also expressed concern over the country’s ability to maintain control over the filtering of foreign content, as more scenes appear to slip through in foreign films and dramas on streaming platforms.
According to ABIM, age-control mechanisms, content reporting systems and self-regulation measures on social media remain weak and rely too heavily on users.
“When content can be accessed through basic searches, the responsibility for protection should not rest solely on parents or individuals, but must involve clear commitment from platform providers.
“ABIM rejects the narrative that deviant content only appears to those who seek it, as algorithms also push content based on minor interactions and viewing patterns, including to underage users,” he said.