KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed concern that social media platforms have not been effective in preventing children under 13 from signing up on their sites.
He said social media platforms did not allow children under 13 from creating, owning and using accounts.
"Generally, social media platforms do not permit children under 13 to have accounts. However, these platforms often treat this restriction as merely a guideline.
"We (the ministry) might need to highlight specific measures to ensure that children do not create social media accounts.
"This is important because children sometimes find ways around the rules, such as having someone older set up accounts for them," he said after flagging off participants of the Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang 2024 today.
Fahmi said the licensing of social media platforms had the goal of enforcing stricter measures to prevent children from accessing social media platforms and to combat online child sexual predators.
"We want to put an end to paedophiles who use fake accounts to exploit children," he said.
Fahmi added that parents ensure their children did not have social media accounts and did not share personal information online.
On July 27, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that social media and online messaging platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia must apply for a licence from Aug 1. at least eight million users in Malaysia must apply for a licence from Aug 1.
The MCMC said this requirement is part of a new regulatory framework aimed at ensuring a safer online ecosystem.
The licence requirement will be enforced from Jan 1.
In a related development, Fahmi said the ministry would begin engaging with stakeholders in the social media industry to develop a code of conduct.
He said the licencing process would run concurrently with the development of the code of conduct, which was expected to be completed by December.