Age limits on social media must be enforced strictly, says Fahmi Fadzil

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has reportedly said that the government will continue to remind social media platform providers to take action based on guidelines set regarding age limit. Failure to do so will lead to a discussion on the best course of action on it, added Fahmi. 

This includes platform such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X where the age limit to create an account is 13 years old and above, the minister said after opening the 'Jelajah peduli ummah' programme yesterday (8 Dec), according to The Star. 

In addition, Fahmi reportedly said that the amendment to Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) would allow two forms of offences to be arrestable offences. The offences are namely pedophilia and the sale of online pornography. 

Don't miss: Australia to ban social media for children: How could this impact marketers? 

The government has decided to make some offences more severe while the aspect of freedom of expression is more detailed and not easy to be abused in the future, the minister reportedly added.

Earlier in November this year, Australia passed a law that bans children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. The laws place the onus on social media platforms – not young people or their parents – to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years of age from having accounts. Social media companies that fail to do so will face fines of up to US$32 million. A trial of enforcement methods will begin in January 2025, with the ban set to take effect in one year.

In response to the passage of the law, a spokesperson from Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, told A+M in a statement that it is concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people.

On the other hand, a spokesperson from Bytedance said in a statement that it is disappointed that the Australian government has ignored the advice of many mental health, online safety, and youth advocacy experts who have strongly opposed the ban. 

On a similar note, a spokesperson from Snap said in a statement that it has raised serious concerns about the legislation, alongside various academics and experts, including the Privacy Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner.

In conversation with A+M. agency leaders in Malaysia and Singapore said that a social media ban may pose an impact on marketers. "We suspect there will be significant uptick in platforms that are open world, encrypted and less regulated- ranging from Telegram to Roblox, which may be an opportunity for marketers, but is a double-edged sword," said Rengeeta Rendava, founder and managing director, Mad Hat Asia. 

"If this ban were somehow effective in driving kids toward outdoor activities or other offline spaces, then outdoor advertising, celebrity endorsements, and relevant brand collaborations would be more major plays. Influencer marketing, particularly involving younger creators, will likely be most impacted," added Rendava. 

Meanwhile, Chito Jusi, client president, media, dentsu Singapore said he does not see such a ban taking shape around the region. "If the ban goes through, marketers that have younger consumers as a target audience will be forced to review their messaging and channel strategies. Marketers might also need to understand how they can get their messages through to children through speaking with parents and families in general instead of tailor-fitting content for younger consumers directly," he added. 

Related articles:    
Australia passes law banning social media access for children under 16  
5 social media trends that will define 2025  
Is your business ready for these 5 shifts in social media