This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on June 8, 2026 - June 14, 2026

Malaysia’s new Child Protection Code under the Online Safety Act 2025 took  effect on June 1. It requires social media providers to verify users’ ages to prevent children under 16 from registering accounts on their platforms. 

Most parents are aware of the risks their children face online, especially with the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI), which has made it easier to create and spread misleading, harmful and inappropriate content. However, awareness alone does not always translate into action.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Google and conducted in Malaysia in January and February this year, while 67% of parents said they felt confident guiding their children in AI, fewer were taking practical steps to protect them online.

The survey found that 56.8% of Malaysian parents cited online safety and privacy as their top concern, yet fewer than 38.9% felt confident protecting their child’s personal data online.

Content exposure is another major concern, with 54.5% of parents worried about inappropriate or harmful material, while 86.1% said they believed their children were at risk of encountering misinformation online.

Managing screen time remains a challenge for many families, but only 21% of parents said they used remote locking features to manage their child’s device usage.

These concerns come amid growing risks from AI-generated misinformation, deepfakes, scams and impersonation, as well as privacy issues arising when children share personal information with chatbots and AI assistants.

While social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer parental control features in their apps , there are also third-party parental control apps that work across Android and iPhone devices without requiring special telco services.

Ultimately, no parental control app is foolproof. While these tools can help manage screen time, filter content and monitor online activity, they work best when paired with open conversations about digital safety, responsible internet use and healthy screen habits.

Qustodio offers screen-time management, app blocking, web filtering, location tracking and activity reports across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac devices. Its strength lies in its broad feature set and ease of use for families managing multiple devices. While Qustodio can enforce restrictions effectively, a technology savvy child may still bypass some controls using a VPN. However, the app can detect and block many VPN applications on Android devices when configured correctly. Basic plan starts at about US$59.95 per year.

Google Family Link is Google’s free parental control app designed primarily for Android devices. It allows parents to approve app downloads, set screen-time limits, lock devices remotely and track location. Its biggest advantage is that it is free and deeply integrated into the Android ecosystem. However, it offers fewer monitoring features than paid alternatives. Family Link can prevent younger children from installing VPNs without approval, but older users who gain access to device settings may find ways around restrictions. It is best suited for younger children rather than tech-savvy teenagers.

Bark focuses less on restricting device usage and more on monitoring online safety. The platform scans messages, emails, social media activity and online interactions for signs of cyberbullying, grooming, self-harm, explicit content and other risks, then alerts parents when concerns arise. Its strength is helping parents identify potential problems without constantly reading their children’s messages. Because Bark is designed as a monitoring tool rather than a strict content blocker, a VPN may conceal some browsing activity, even though Bark can still monitor supported apps and services that it is connected to. Plans start at about US$14 per month.

Microsoft Family Safety is particularly useful for households that use Windows PCs, Xbox consoles and Microsoft accounts. It provides screen-time management, web filtering, location sharing and activity reports. The platform integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s ecosystem and is easy to administer. However, its controls are less extensive on non-Microsoft devices. Like most parental control solutions, it can struggle if a child uses a VPN to bypass web filtering, although device-level restrictions and screen-time limits generally remain effective. A basic version is available free, while premium features are included with certain Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions.

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