Growing concern over children’s online safety is helping drive stronger support among Malaysians for age restrictions on social media. (Envato Elements pic)PETALING JAYA: Gen Z is often described as the generation that grew up online, shaped by smartphones, social media and always-on digital life. Yet in Malaysia, many of these same young adults are now among the strongest supporters of keeping children off social platforms altogether.
According to an Ipsos study released earlier this month, 81% of Malaysian Gen Z respondents agreed that children under 14 should be barred from using social media both during and outside school hours. That was up sharply from 67% in 2025, representing the steepest increase among the generations surveyed.
