Rethinking child safety in Malaysia’s digital space

 

Letter to Editor

REACHING its end in year 2025, the Malaysian government stated its intention to prohibit minors younger than sixteen from creating and maintaining their own social media accounts.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will develop implementing regulations for subsidiary regulations of the Online Safety Act 2025 requiring social media platforms to provide effective age-verification systems and prevent those younger than sixteen from accessing social media.

The government’s plan is for all social media platforms to perform e-KYC (electronic ‘know your customer’) with valid government issued identification such as a MyKad, passport or MyDigital ID to allow access to social media. All users currently younger than sixteen will be required to de-active existing accounts on or before 2026 or the platforms will remove them.

Islamic-ethical lens on safeguarding dignity

In essence, this policy aims to protect children’s physical and mental health, their future, and their intellectual growth, all of which fall within the broader goals of Islam.

The protection of youth from dangerous online content or possible abuse, is therefore in line with these main concerns of Islam. In addition to education, social interaction and being part of your community, learning in Islam is also about having a positive impact on your society.

Hence, as long as it is used correctly, digital media and technology can be an excellent way to learn, build positive relationships with others and make positive contributions to your society.

A balance between Islam and the internet will be found somewhere in the middle of permissive and restrictive, by encouraging the moral and responsible use of digital media through parental involvement and community support.

Toward a more careful path

Instead of blocking all young people from viewing particular types of digital content, we require a more balanced and considered approach that allows them to participate, learn, develop and stay safe within the digital world.

Age verification systems could be required of platforms and parental consent could be obtained for all users under 16, with access to content permitted on an educationally related or community related basis, or for other valid reasons; while also allowing platforms to create safer environments for children through the implementation of ‘safer by design’ features, default privacy settings and age appropriate content filtering.

There is also a requirement to invest in digital literacy programs that incorporate the development of media ethics and “adab/moral digital” or how to behave and act responsibly and respectfully online.

This can be achieved through the inclusion of digital literacy into the school curriculum, training and provision of resources to mosques, places of worship and community centres, and by promoting community and parent involvement ( setting out clearly what is acceptable, not using the parents’ ID/own social media account) so that young people have a broad base of knowledge and understanding about how to behave and act responsibly online – not just from regulatory bodies.

Any new policy should be reviewed regularly to determine whether it remains relevant and effective due to changes in technology and social values. A flexible or adaptive approach will enable the nation to protect young people in the digital environment without imposing inflexibly long-term restrictions that will soon become outdated.

Conclusion

There is little doubt that the intention behind the regulation of social media (protecting the youth) cannot be used as a reason to impede upon young peoples right to gather information, connect with each other socially, and engage in creative expression, etc.

A prohibition will likely offer some short-term protection but ultimately could result in the permanent disconnecting, or unequal access to opportunity for youth.

From both a civic and ethical Islamic perspective, the aim is not to restrict access to social media but to provide education and guidance to youth regarding the responsible use of social media and empowerment.

Creating a ‘Digital Civilization’ based on the principles of dignity, responsibility, and balance is what we should be striving for as Malaysia moves forward into the digital era.

We should seek to establish a future where youth are able to navigate the world of the internet with wisdom, not driven by fear, and not solely regulated by laws/algorithms, but by the values of community and compassion. 

Dr Madiha Baharuddin is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Fiqh-Usul and Applied Sciences, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.