KUANTAN, Feb 2 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today said TikTok account ownership by children under the age of 13 is one of the issues which they are looking to raise with the social media platform’s management.
There are some concerns over the accounts by this age group, as TikTok’s community guidelines explicitly state that users must be 13 years and older to have an account.
“However, based on observation, including in my constituency (Lembah Pantai), many primary school children have TikTok accounts. This is a very worrying situation.
“There are some unhealthy trends that we see spreading on social media, including TikTok, and children can be easily influenced. I think we need to monitor what children browse when they are on the Internet.
“We may also have to call TikTok management to get an explanation regarding the enforcement (of their guidelines),” he told the press after paying a courtesy call to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail at Wisma Sri Pahang today.
Also present were Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching and Communication Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa.
Fahmi added that he will also discuss with the Attorney-General if it is necessary to take legal action against TikTok’s management regarding account ownership by children, as done by other countries.
When asked if TikTok had made improvements after its operational compliance with Malaysian laws was reported to be unsatisfactory, he said, “they have improved, but certain actions (to be taken) are being studied together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)”.
Those actions are needed following rampant misuse of the social media platform, including in issues related to the culture of extremism and takfirism that could jeopardise national harmony.
— Bernama
