PUTRAJAYA – The Communications Ministry is planning a tour in collaboration with the Education Ministry to raise awareness and understanding of the safe use of social media, especially TikTok among minors.
Its minister, Fahmi Fadzil said he had been in touch with the education minister’s office to express this desire.
“We hope to cooperate with several parties to work on a roadshow or tour to give awareness and understanding among the parent-teacher associations, especially teachers and students.
“Those in school from Year 1 to 6 cannot have TikTok accounts, as this actually violates the basic common guideline for the platform,” he told the media after launching Bernama’s annual Ramadan corporate social responsibility programme with the theme “Indahnya Ramadan,” here today. The programme is aimed at spreading joy and kindness within the Putrajaya community.
Also present were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
At the same time, Fahmi said the ministry would also examine the necessary measures to ensure that children under the age of 13 do not have social media accounts as many parents were not aware that the basic age limit was at least 13 years and above to have social media accounts such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
“Nowadays many parents do not notice this basic age limit, (so) I urge that children below 13 not be given TikTok accounts as there are some things that are not good and there is a worry about the algorithm that is presented to children because it is able to form their thoughts,” he said.
Apart from this, he said the views of influencers on social media in the form of satire and parody were inappropriate and had not yet reached the level of thinking of children of that age to accept them.
Accordingly, Fahmi reminded parents to always monitor their children below the age of 13 to ensure they did not use social media, especially TikTok.
Earlier, Fahmi went down to the field to present 1,000 food packets as well as donation bags to the public in conjunction with the holy month.
The Ramadan CSR programme, which is into its second year, also received the support of Bernama’s strategic partners FGV Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong Islamic Bhd, Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd, All Kurma Sdn Bhd, the Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges Department, Perbadanan Putrajaya and Miaow Miaow Food Products Sdn Bhd. – March 29, 2024