Age bans alone won’t keep children safe online, UNICEF says
KOTA KINABALU: Social media age restrictions on their own will not protect children online and could have unintended consequences, UNICEF said on Friday, as Malaysian authorities step up efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Recent enforcement actions against child sexual abuse material (CSAM) underscore the scale of risks facing children in digital spaces, the United Nations children’s agency said. UNICEF welcomed Malaysia’s tougher stance, including the Online Safety Act 2025 and measures aimed at holding digital platforms accountable.
However, it cautioned that age bans must form part of a broader approach.
“Families are overwhelmed. Children are encountering bullying, grooming and sexual exploitation online, and the status quo is clearly failing them,” said Sanja Saranovic, UNICEF Malaysia’s deputy representative (pic).
“But simply banning younger users from social media will not solve the problem.”
Children are likely to continue accessing online services, often through less regulated platforms where protections are weaker and reporting harm is more difficult, UNICEF said.
The agency said social media can be an important lifeline for children who are isolated, marginalised or living with disabilities, offering opportunities for learning, connection and self-expression. Any measures aimed at protection must balance safety with children’s rights to participation, information and privacy, it added.
UNICEF called for a comprehensive, child-rights-based approach to online safety in Malaysia, including stronger obligations on technology companies to redesign products with child safety in mind, improve detection and blocking of known CSAM, invest in safer platform design and content moderation, and provide child-friendly reporting and remedies.
It also urged the use of age-appropriate design features and privacy-preserving age-assurance tools, rather than relying solely on bans, alongside stronger regulatory oversight, independent audits and greater transparency from platforms.
Support for parents, caregivers and schools is also critical, UNICEF said, including investment in digital literacy and parenting support to help adults navigate online risks.
“Online safety cannot rely on enforcement alone,” 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.”
UNICEF said it was ready to work with the Malaysian government, regulators, industry and civil society to help ensure children can learn and connect safely online.
