Blanket under-16 social media ban may push teens into riskier online spaces, warns think tank

 

A MALAYSIAN public policy think tank has called for the government to rethink the proposed move to restrict social media access for those under 16, saying international experience, including Australia’s recent implementation, points to real enforcement limits and predictable unintended consequences.

Wawasanex chief economist Adli Amirullah said protecting children online is a legitimate policy goal but a blanket ban risks missing the real problem.

“If we push teenagers off mainstream platforms, they will not go offline. They will go elsewhere, often somewhere harder for parents, schools, and regulators to see,” he said.

“I agree we must protect minors from grooming, harassment, and cyberbullying. That is real harm. But an outright ban is a blunt tool. Teenagers will still find ways to talk and socialise, they will just move to corners of the internet that are harder for parents, schools, and regulators to see.

“That can make things less safe, not more. We have seen the same pattern when authorities ban an activity. It does not disappear, it shifts, and it becomes harder to manage.

“Social media should be treated the same way. Instead of pushing young people out entirely, make the environment safer by design.

“Stronger default protections for minors, tighter settings, meaningful parental tools, faster takedowns and enforcement, and clear accountability on platforms. The goal should be safer use, not forced invisibility.”

Wawasanex chief economist Adli Amirullah

On Nov 23, 2025, the government announced plans to introduce a blanket ban on social media use for all children under 16 under the new Online Safety Act 2025, that will be enforced this year.

The government is considering using the electronic Know-Your-Customer process (e-KYC) to verify the ages of online platform users.

The mechanisms involved and the implementation oversight of the ban are still being reviewed, but will involve regulatory bodies.

If implemented, the e-KYC method will require users to submit government-issued documents, including the MyKad, passports, or MyDigital ID to facilitate age verification.

On the under-16 ban, Adli said Malaysia should be careful not to confuse access restriction with harm reduction.

“Public policy must be built on behavioural realities, not assumptions. Young people will adapt faster than regulators. The better route is to reduce harm where they already are, not to pretend we can remove the behaviour entirely,” he stated.

Adli went on to urge the government to take a broader approach that focuses on outcomes and platform design, with policy directions including the requirement of high privacy settings by default for children, limiting data collection, switching off geo-location by default, and tightening rules that prevent platforms from using profiling based advertising on minors.

He said measures like these reduce exposure and reduce amplification of harm, without pushing young users into less visible spaces.

Adli further urged the government to consider proper stakeholder engagement before any restrictive legislation is introduced.

“This should include input from educators, parents, child psychologists, school administrators, technology experts, civil society groups, law enforcement agencies, relevant regulators, platforms, and app stores,” he continued.

“Malaysia has a real opportunity to get this right. We should aim for smarter rules that protect children without cutting them off.

We should put responsibility where it belongs, on platform design and enforcement while strengthening families, schools, and communities to support young people.” ‒ Focus Malaysia