Why Some Argue For Prohibiting Social Media and Smartphones Under Age 16?

In an era where smartphones and social-media platforms have become deeply woven into everyday life, there is growing concern about their impact on children and young teens. Some parties argue that access to these technologies before a certain age may harm psychological development, increase exposure to risk, and undermine real-world social interactions. On the other hand, opponents caution that forbidding access could delay digital literacy, social connection, and even education.

The specific proposition under discussion here is bold: should children under 16 be prohibited from having social-media accounts and use of smartphones? This article examines both sides of the argument and reviews relevant case studies and data from Malaysia that illustrate the realities behind the debate.

Why some argue for prohibiting social media and smartphones under age 16?

Exposure to online harm

In Malaysia, several studies show that teens are vulnerable to cyberbullying, harassment, grooming, and exposure to inappropriate content. For example:

• A study found that three out of every ten young people in Malaysia were victims of cyberbullying, which occurs most frequently on social-media platforms.
• Research shows teenage girls in particular feel unsafe online: in a sample, 51% of girls noted they felt unsafe despite perhaps not having received direct threats.
• A Malaysian survey reported more than 40% of teens said social media harmed their sleep, with negative impacts on productivity and school performance.

Face to face social interaction which needed to be consider

Commentators argue that children under 16 may not yet have the emotional maturity to navigate the complexities of social media: peer pressure, identity issues, online permanence. One article noted that raising the minimum social-media age to 16 would give adolescents more time to develop offline behaviours.







Real-world incident linkages in Malaysia

There are growing concerns that digital exposure is correlated with offline violence and risky behaviour. Malaysian lawmakers have flagged that school disciplinary problems, bullying, assaults, truancy may be linked to students’ over-exposure to social media.

Given such findings, the argument is made that a ban or strict limitation for under-16s could mitigate risks: less exposure, more controlled offline growth, more direct parental/social interaction, less screen-time addiction.

In short, the proposition of “no social media/smartphones under 16” has merit given the risks, but prohibition may be unrealistic and might carry its own harms. Protecting our younger teens in the digital age calls for a comprehensive policy that prioritizes education and supervision. By doing so, we not only safeguard them but also prepare them for the responsibilities of digital adulthood.

As Malaysia moves to tighten social media regulations for young teens, we must weigh the risks against the benefits. Unsupervised access can lead to serious issues, yet smartphones also offer valuable learning experiences.



Source : Seri, Sinar Daily , Seri.my, Malay Mail , The Edge Post
Image Credit : The Rakyat Post