Why does age matter in the digital world?
Some experts recommend introducing technology at age 13, while others argued that 16 was a safer starting point. This is because at younger ages, children lacked mechanisms to evaluate problems, cope with stress, or manage the risks posed by predators.

SHAH ALAM - As technology continues to shape modern life, debates over the appropriate age for children to enter the digital world have intensified.
Criminologist Shankar Durairaja said clinical and developmental psychologists emphasised the importance of age in determining when children should be given access to gadgets and digital platforms.
He said the human brain undergoes significant development during childhood and adolescence where children needed approximately 12 years to develop the brain structures necessary for critical thinking.
"After this period, they begin to mature and implement these skills. However, full maturity typically emerges between the ages of 18 to 20, depending on individual and regional factors," he told Sinar Daily.
He said this developmental timeline has also fueled differing opinions on when children should be allowed digital exposure.
He said some experts recommended introducing technology at the age of 13, while others argued that 16 was a safer starting point.
This, he said was because at younger ages, children lacked the mechanisms to evaluate problems, cope with stress, or manage the risks posed by predators.
In response to growing concerns, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has introduced a regulatory framework aimed at creating a safer digital space for children.
While the framework has been met with some criticisms for its delayed implementation, Shankar said it was still a crucial step in the right direction.
"It is a right move although experts are saying it is a bit delayed but for me doing a new legislation or a regulatory framework is not easy.
"From a government perspective not easy to do a regulatory framework just like that, it involves cooperation from various parties.
"They are also looking into children's safety as well so they are looking into the aspect of the overall environment to prevent cyber-bullying," he said.
He also stressed the importance of a "bottom-up approach" in shaping such frameworks.
He said public opinion, especially from social workers and professionals working at the ground level was essential.
These individuals, he said understood the nuances, including the modus operandi of cyber predators and the real-world consequences of online exploitation.
"Their insights can make the framework more comprehensive and impactful," he added.
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