‘Symptoms show brain adjusting to loss of constant stimulation, not withdrawal as seen with substance addiction’
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia moves to bar children aged under 16 from social media, millions of young users may soon find their daily scrolling abruptly cut short, a shift that experts say could trigger short-term emotional unease but not clinical withdrawal.
The Online Safety Act 2025, which came into force on Jan 1, provides the legal framework for stronger child protection online while subsidiary regulations that are now being finalised would require platforms to block access for under-16s and strengthen age-verification systems, marking the country’s most significant intervention yet into how children engage with digital platforms.
The policy has reignited debate over how deeply social media is woven into young lives, and what happens psychologically when that constant digital presence suddenly disappears.
Researchers say the emotional discomfort young users often experience when cut off from platforms such as TikTok or Instagram is usually temporary, part of the brain adjusting to a sudden change in routine and stimulation.
Universiti Malaya media and communication studies researcher Dr Muhammad Zaiamri Zainal Abidin said such discomfort typically peaks within days.
“When distress or impairment occurs, it usually peaks within the first two to three days after stopping social media use.
“For most individuals, these symptoms gradually stabilise within two weeks as they adjust and settle into new routines.
“Common reactions include restlessness, irritability, heightened boredom, anxiety and a strong urge to check their phones.”
He added that studies have also recorded short-term changes in mood, focus and perceived wellbeing.
“In the early phase, some individuals experience increased anxiety, emotional instability and a temporary dip in perceived wellbeing,” he said.
“Focus and productivity may also decline initially as the mind is adjusting to the absence of fast-paced digital stimulation.”
He said heavier users tend to experience stronger reactions than moderate users.
“This group often relies on social media for emotional regulation, social validation and stress relief. They are also more prone to the fear of missing out and tend to form stronger emotional attachments to online feedback, such as likes and comments.
“Current evidence suggests that symptoms such as restlessness, irritability and difficulty concentrating are better understood as the brain adjusting to the sudden loss of constant stimulation and reward, rather than true withdrawal in the clinical sense seen with substance addiction.”
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) communication and media experts echoed similar findings, saying young users who depend on platforms such as TikTok for emotional regulation typically experience only mild and short-lived discomfort when access is suddenly removed.
University communication and media policy expert Assoc Prof Dr Tengku Elena Tengku Mahamad said her research found that users who rely on social media to manage emotions may feel unsettled when that routine is disrupted.
“From a communication and emotional labour perspective, this is better understood as habit disruption.
“Some users may experience short-term reactions, such as restlessness, mild frustration or feeling emotionally unsettled. These reactions reflect the disruption of a familiar emotional routine.
“Most users adapt once they find other ways to regulate how they feel. Similar reactions could happen when people lose access to other routines they rely on to cope emotionally, such as listening to music or unwinding in familiar ways.”
University Communication and Media Studies Faculty Strategic Communication Centre head Dr Wan Norbani Wan Noordin said her research showed that young users adapt quickly when access to TikTok is removed.
“What we observed is that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are often more adaptable than they are portrayed. In the short term, losing access to TikTok may lead to mild reactions, such as boredom, temporary frustration or greater awareness of emotions that were previously being soothed through scrolling.
“Participants described a strong ability to seek alternatives, whether by turning to other digital platforms, relying on offline supports such as friends and family, or shifting to personal activities.”
She added that TikTok use in her study was driven more by emotional connection than compulsion.
“Students described using TikTok to access relatable content, such as shared experiences or communities that reflect what they are going through.
“Any discomfort experienced when stepping away from the platform tends to be mild and contextual.
“Most students appeared to recalibrate quickly. The change is better understood as an adjustment to a different emotional environment rather than a lasting impairment,” she said.
