KUALA LUMPUR – Despite her busy schedule as Deputy Communications Minister, Teo Nie Ching ensures she remains directly involved in her children’s online activities, personally overseeing their gaming and social media use.
She emphasised that active supervision and parental controls are essential for keeping children safe in the digital space.
“My kids play Roblox as well. So actually, I set up parental control with them. I will verify their age.
“I will set out certain limits, for example, because I think the games in Roblox also will be age-appropriate,” the mother of three added.
Teo highlighted that parents must take personal responsibility for managing their children’s access to digital platforms, rather than relying solely on government regulation. She noted that even Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has adopted a stricter approach at home.
“For example, my minister, Datuk Fahmi, he actually banned his kids from playing Roblox.
“Because I think at one point, he felt that the kids were unable to focus on their studies. He said, no more Roblox for, I don’t know, for how long, maybe until now.”
Teo said she prefers a guided approach rather than complete restriction, setting clear rules for her children, including a firm ban on violent games.
“I don’t like the shooting games. I need to make sure that I will do the age verification for your account so that Roblox actually will only allow you to play those age-appropriate games.
“And I will tell them that, okay, so no talking to strangers,” the Kulai MP said.
She added that installing these controls is straightforward and time-efficient, taking no more than 30 minutes.
“So I think it’s not so difficult to set up all this. But of course, because I want to set up this parental control, I myself also need to register an account with Roblox.”
Ultimately, Teo said the key lies in prioritising children’s safety online.
“If you think this is important, then you will invest the time to actually ensure that while you don’t want them to be disappointed, you want them to also be allowed to play Roblox with their friends.
“At the same time, you also ensure that you try your very best to ensure that this is a safe environment for them,” the DAP Women’s chief said.
As Malaysia prepares to implement the under-16 social media ban under the Online Safety Act (ONSA), parents are reminded that their role remains critical—particularly since gaming platforms such as Roblox, which include chat functions, are not currently regulated under the law.
While restrictions on social media use for those below 16 will take effect, these rules do not extend to online games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Roblox, or consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, all of which allow players to communicate with friends and, in some cases, strangers.
Teo stressed that safeguarding children online requires cooperation among parents, educators, and platform providers.
“We cannot subcontract it to the government or to schools or teachers. As responsible parents, this is our duty,” she said. – May 7, 2026