Teens’ social media ban part of AI plan, says Education Ministry
Controlled access gives students space to build digital literacy
MALAYSIA’S move to limit social media access for children under 16, even as it ramps up artificial intelligence (AI) education in schools, is not a conflicting policy but rather a calculated effort to balance protection with preparedness.
The Education Ministry said the proposed restriction is meant to serve as a protective pause, allowing students to grow safely during their formative years while the education system continues to equip them with digital literacy, ethical awareness, and critical thinking skills.
The ministry weighed in on concerns from Sinar Daily’s Dec 10, 2025, report on the nation’s “digital paradox,” amid debate over the government’s move to curb social media use among young people.
It said the move aligns with the government’s broader goal of protecting children from the well-documented harms of social media, including cyberbullying, sexual grooming and deterioration of mental health.
While the regulation of social media platforms falls under the Communications Ministry, the Education Ministry views the proposed ban for under-16s as a necessary safeguard to protect students’ digital well-being; a foundation it considers essential for effective learning.
The ministry said limiting exposure to harmful online content allows students to interact with technology more meaningfully, rather than becoming passive consumers driven by algorithms designed for entertainment and social validation.
Addressing concerns about a potential conflict between restricting social media and promoting AI education, the ministry emphasised that the two are not contradictory.
It draws a clear distinction between digital consumption and digital literacy whereby social media platforms are primarily for recreation and social interaction, while AI education under the Digital Education Policy focuses on developing digital fluency, technical competence and ethical understanding.
“Within the Digital Educational Learning Malaysia (DELIMa) ecosystem, students use secure, education-specific IDs to access learning resources for assignments and study.
“The emphasis is on developing students’ digital mastery, including coding skills and an understanding of AI ethics, all within a supervised environment,” it added.
The ministry said AI is positioned as a learning assistant that personalises education and strengthens critical thinking, rather than an unrestricted tool for content consumption.
To ensure safe use, the ministry is also finalising AI Literacy Guidelines to promote responsible and ethical practices among students and teachers.
To balance AI integration in schools while restricting social media access, the ministry differentiates between open internet use and educational digital environments.
The proposed ban applies only to personal, recreational social media accounts and does not affect students’ use of supervised digital tools within schools.
AI-enabled platforms such as DELIMa and DELIMaFLiX allow students to benefit from technology without the risks associated with open social networking.
The ministry noted that the upcoming Kurikulum Persekolahan 2027 (KP2027) will further embed digital competency and AI literacy into the syllabus, including lessons on how AI works and the importance of data privacy.
Limiting access to platforms like TikTok and Facebook, as well as online games such as Roblox and PUBG within school networks, helps reduce distractions and allows students to focus on both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI.
“Our focus is on developing creators and intelligent users of technology, not just consumers of content,” the ministry said.
Responding to criticism that a social media ban might create a false sense of security or merely delay issues, the ministry stressed that the pause is an opportunity, not a solution in itself. During this period, students are actively equipped with cyber wellness and digital citizenship skills through curriculum integration and nationwide programmes.
These include the Safe Internet Campaign (2025–2027), implemented with the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which aims to raise awareness among students, teachers and families about online safety, digital ethics and responsible internet use.
In parallel, the ministry continues its partnership with CyberSecurity Malaysia through the CyberSAFE in Schools programme, running since 2010, to strengthen cybersecurity education.
The ministry has also introduced Digital Competency Standards to ensure students acquire age-appropriate digital skills throughout their schooling. The standards cover five core domains: data, information and technology management; computational thinking and problem-solving; digital content creation; communication and collaboration as well as digital citizenship.
By the time students reach 16 and gain access to social media, they will have received years of structured education on cyberbullying, fake news, digital footprints and online ethics.
The ministry acknowledged that regulation alone is not enough, emphasising that parental guidance must complement any policy restrictions.
The proposed ban may help reduce immediate risks, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on how families and schools use this time to instill values, awareness and responsible digital habits before students enter the complex and largely unsupervised world of social media.
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