00:01Why 16 and not younger?
00:03This is a key question behind Malaysia's planned social media restrictions.
00:09Experts say it is less about limiting screen time
00:12and more about whether young users are ready to navigate the digital environment independently.
00:18The National Union of the Teaching Profession Secretary-General Fauzi Singhan said,
00:23at 16, adolescents generally possess a higher level of cognitive maturity,
00:29enabling them to make more informed judgments about right and wrong.
00:34He said younger students tend to take content at face value
00:38as they lack the ability to critically evaluate what they encounter online.
00:42The World Health Organization defines adolescents as the period between ages 10 to 19,
00:49a stage of rapid cognitive and psychosocial development
00:52during which individuals are more vulnerable to peer influence and manipulation.
00:59Amnani A. Kadir of Protect and Save the Children believes that while the policy is a step in the right
01:05direction,
01:05restricting access without addressing how children actually use digital platforms
01:10could lead to unintended consequences.
01:14She also cautioned against over-reliance on parental supervision,
01:17noting that many families may lack the time or resources to consistently monitor online activity.
01:24Counselor Dr. Anasuya Jagadevi Jagadesan said digital readiness must be deliberately taught,
01:31both in schools and through parenting support,
01:34to help families better understand how young people should engage with online spaces.
01:40Narthar Raja, FMT.
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