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A child looks into a smartphone in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on June 1. Starting that day, Malaysia implemented new child protection regulations under its Online Safety Act, banning individuals under the age of 16 from opening new social media accounts. / Photo courtesy of EPA, Yonhap News Agency

The ban restricting social media usage for youth under the age of 16, which the Malaysian government has been enforcing since June 1, is facing controversy over its efficacy as possibilities for bypassed access and institutional limitations come to light.

According to the Singaporean media outlet The Straits Times (ST) on June 15, Malaysia has prohibited individuals under 16 within the country from using major social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, starting this month under the child protection provisions of the newly enacted Online Safety Act.

Operators violating this regulation can face fines of up to 10 million MYR (approximately 3.8 billion KRW). The Malaysian government explained that the purpose of the measure is to protect youth from online dangers such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and personal data abuse.

Local youth subject to the regulation are protesting that the block is unfair, arguing that social media is an important space for communicating with friends and acquiring learning information.

Parents also sympathize with the intent to protect youth but express concerns that such a system could restrict opportunities for expression and communication among teenagers.

Practical limitations revealed during the implementation process are also not insignificant. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) mandated that platform operators establish user age verification systems utilizing identification cards, granting a six-month grace period for this setup.

Consequently, some platforms where the system has not yet been built are restricting underage accounts using algorithms, which presents a limitation as users can bypass them through simple manipulation.

For instance, on TikTok, a regulation that automatically converts an account to private when an individual under 16 signs up can be neutralized by the user changing the settings to public.

Furthermore, because regulations cannot be imposed on the parents of those targeted, the age restriction can be evaded by parents opening accounts on behalf of their children.

Some voices point out that alongside strengthening the government's enforcement capabilities, the provision of socio-cultural spaces for youth must be pursued concurrently.

Suraya Ali, who is raising three children in Malaysia, argued, "If the government intends to restrict the digital environment, they must urgently provide parks and dedicated facilities that youth can use safely and free of charge."

The MCMC plans to monitor the compliance of platform operators over the next six months and oversee the settlement process of the regulation.

                                                                                                           Hong Sung-ah