KUALA LUMPUR: Unsupervised use of social media may risk exposing children to inappropriate content as well as cyberbullying, subsequently affecting their mental and emotional well-being, the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (the Content Forum) said.
This is among the four key reasons outlined by the Content Forum to support the reminder issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for parents to ensure that their children under 13 do not own any social media accounts.
The Content Forum, in a statement today, said children under 13 may not fully comprehend the risks involved in using social media.
"Without proper supervision, they can fall victim to unsafe activities such as scams, cyberbullying, or harmful interactions," the independent self-regulatory body said.
It added that social media may risk exposing children to inappropriate or distressing content, such as violence, explicit imagery, or hateful messages, which can have negative effects on their emotional and psychological development.
"Social media trends and challenges can also pose risks to children who fear missing out and desire to become viral. Some of these trends are highly dangerous, and parents may not be aware of their existence.
"Children are more likely to share personal information openly on social media platforms because they do not yet understand the dangers and risks that may arise.
"This can open the door to privacy breaches or sharing information to those with malicious intent," it said.
The Content Forum also highlighted the importance for parents and guardians to communicate openly with their children about social media use, and ensure they understand the necessary safety measures.
"The Content Forum encourages parents to be aware of the risks and dangers present on social
media," the statement said.
It reported yesterday that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the MCMC found that it was not appropriate for children under 13 to use any social media.
Most social media platforms, he said, did not permit teens of such age to sign up for an account.
"Should there be such a case (of children under 13 having social media accounts), parents please inform me, the MCMC... we will shut down the account," said Fahmi.