UNICEF Welcomes Malaysia's Commitment, Says Age Bans Alone Won't Protect Children

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today reaffirmed that governments are right to take online child sexual exploitation and abuse seriously, but emphasised that social media age restrictions alone will not safeguard children online and could have unintended consequences.

UNICEF in a statement said recent enforcement operations against child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Malaysia highlight the scale and urgency of the threat facing children in digital spaces.

“UNICEF welcomes the strong commitment by Malaysian authorities to tackle CSAM and strengthen online safety, including through the Online Safety Act 2025 and efforts to hold digital platforms accountable. 

“At the same time, UNICEF cautions that age restrictions and bans must be part of a broader approach, not a standalone solution,” it said.

The statement said digital platforms can provide vital opportunities for learning, connection, play and self-expression, and any measure to protect children must therefore balance safety with their rights to participation, information and privacy.

Therefore, UNICEF calls for a comprehensive, child-rights-based approach to online safety in Malaysia, which includes stronger platform responsibility by requiring social media and technology companies to redesign products with child safety at the centre while implementing systems and procedures to detect and block access to known CSAM.

UNICEF also highlighted the importance of rights-respecting age-appropriate designs and tools to offer safer, developmentally appropriate experiences for younger users, rather than relying solely on bans.

The organisation also called for stronger regulation and enforcement, ensuring regulators have the powers and resources to require systemic risk assessments, independent audits, and meaningful transparency from platforms.

It further calls for support for parents, caregivers, and schools, including investments in social-emotional and digital literacy as well as parenting guidance, so that adults are not left to “police algorithms they cannot see” or monitor dozens of apps alone.

According to the statement, UNICEF stands ready to work with the Malaysian government, regulators, industry partners, civil society, parents and young people themselves to ensure that every child can safely learn, connect, and thrive in the digital age.

UNICEF Malaysia Deputy Representative Sanja Saranovic said platforms, regulators, families, schools and communities must work together to create digital environments that are safe, inclusive and rights-respecting for every child.

“Families are overwhelmed. Children are encountering bullying, grooming and sexual exploitation online, and the status quo is clearly failing them.

“But simply banning younger users from social media will not solve the problem. Many children will still find ways to go online, often through less regulated platforms, where it is harder to protect them and they will be less likely to seek help when something goes wrong,” she said.

The Online Safety Act 2025, which comes into effect on Jan 1, 2026, will require platforms to remove harmful content, like child sexual abuse material and financial scams, within 24 hours.

-- BERNAMA