As debate over social media regulation shifts from “if” to “when,” growing evidence supports setting 16 as the minimum age for digital independence under Malaysia’s Online Safety Act 2025.
The primary concern for child psychologists is the vast gap between a minor’s technical fluency and their cognitive ability to manage “chemical rewards”.
IMU University senior lecturer and clinical psychologist, Dr Serena In, highlights that adolescents’ brains are still developing, making them highly vulnerable to:
- Neurobiological ‘reward’ loop
- social validation
This exposure can contribute to reduced physical activity, social withdrawal, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
While regulation is important, psychologists stress that parental guidance, open communication, and healthy offline engagement remain essential to help young people develop resilience before navigating the digital world independently.
Learn more about this at Why ‘16’ Is The Threshold We Need For Online Safety (The Star, 24 April 2026).
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