Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has once again emphasised the need to implement an age limit of 16 for the use of social media to protect children and teenagers from the risk of being exploited or exposed to inappropriate material online.
A shocking incident involving a 10-year-old student and his teacher
Sharing an incident where a student as young as 10 years old requested indecent photos from his teacher via WhatsApp, Fahmi said that this was a clear example that showed the need for social media restrictions for young people.
He said the incident was reported by a teacher from Kuala Lumpur who complained that her fourth-year student was sending messages via the messaging application.
"We hope that issues like this can be addressed by restricting social media platforms and messaging systems like WhatsApp. We don't want to block all applications, but at this time, we are looking at social media.
"I believe the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) is aware of such matters (the incident of students asking for photos of teachers)," he said at a press conference after officiating the Closing Ceremony of the Safe Internet 2025 Mega Campaign Carnival at the IOI City Mall Exhibition and Convention Centre, here today.
Also present were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, the ministry's Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Managing Director Abdul Karim Fakir Ali and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
MCMC is working on a solution soon
In addition, Fahmi said the ministry is also working closely with the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, in implementing the Online Safety Act (OnSA) 2024 to ensure safe use of the Internet.
Furthermore, he said, OnSA allows fines of up to RM10 million, but they are still examining appropriate mechanisms for implementing and enforcing social media age restrictions that are appropriate in other countries, including fines like those in Australia.
"We will discuss with social media platforms in devising a framework that is suitable for Malaysia, for example, the identity verification process, such as the use of official government documents, such as MyKad, MyPR and passports for non-citizens.
"We also contacted the Australian High Commission to obtain the latest information on the implementation of the policy (age limit), which will begin on December 10 in that country, but social media platforms have begun to either block or remove accounts that do not meet the requirements," he explained.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Safe Internet Campaign organised by MCMC will continue early next year after successfully attracting the participation of 8462 schools involving 369005 students nationwide, as of November 30.
"Initially, we targeted 10,000 schools. Next year, we will go to the next school and expand this campaign as the Safe Internet Campaign 2.0 with the involvement of more communities, including neighbourhood groups, parents and places of worship, in ensuring online safety is extended to the entire community," he said.
Moreover, MCMC, through a statement, announced that the focus in 2026 is to continue implementing the campaign in schools and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as well as expanding its reach to other Internet users such as senior citizens, youth and parents.
A nationwide campaign for a healthier internet community
Previously, the campaign was expanded to communities, government agencies, the private sector and community organisations, involving 466 programmes and 287939 participants.
Besides that, the Safe Internet Campaign Mega Carnival featured various major activities, such as the Inter-IIPT Debate Finals Competition, which was held for the first time, forums, online safety exhibitions by various agencies, as well as interactive activities at the booths, which successfully attracted nearly 3000 visitors.
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