Banning social media won’t keep children safe
The real solution lies in stronger regulation and enforcement rather than outright bans.
SHAH ALAM – Banning social media may offer the illusion of control, but it does little to keep young users safe, says Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said the real solution lies in stronger regulation and enforcement rather than outright bans.
He noted that children today were often more tech-savvy than adults.
“I think we have to be careful. The idea of banning may sound good, but have we really answered the question?
“We’ve all been young before, and young people will always find a way, it’s human nature.
“If we ban it completely, they will still find other ways and we may not know where they go.
“I have children myself; they will always find ways to interact with their friends or play games, and many of these games include communication features,” he told Sinar Daily at the Karangkraf Complex, here.
Instead, he advocated working with tech companies to implement stronger monitoring and age-appropriate controls.
“Access can be allowed at a certain age, but with stronger monitoring and controls. At least this way, we know what they are using and what is happening because we are working with the platforms.
“I would prefer not to ban social media entirely, but instead focus on better regulation and stronger enforcement of existing rules,” he said.
Concerns over social media usage among young people have been rising globally, with studies linking excessive use to mental health issues, cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.
In Malaysia, the government recently announced plans to restrict children under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts by mid‑year under the new Online Safety Act 2025.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the measure could be implemented earlier if preparations are completed ahead of schedule, while platforms would be given time to ensure compliance.
The Online Safety Act 2025 is expected to come into force within weeks, following the finalisation and gazetting of subsidiary instruments by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
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