Regulators and industry experts said algorithms that repeatedly recommend similar content could encourage excessive screen time and should face greater scrutiny. (File pic) KUALA LUMPUR: Excessive phone use is not simply a matter of self-discipline but the result of digital platforms deliberately designed to keep users hooked, experts said. Speaking at a panel session at the International Regulatory Conference (IRC) 2026, Relate Malaysia founder Dr Chua Sook Ning said unhealthy digital use was when people found themselves unable to disengage from their devices even when they wanted to.
“It starts to impact personal relationships. When I want to stop, I can’t,” she said, adding that many continued thinking about social media interactions even after putting their phones away. Chua stressed that platforms were built to maximise engagement, saying it was “part of the business model”.
Content Forum Malaysia CEO Mediha Mahmood said concerns over “doomscrolling”, for example, went beyond the content itself to how algorithms repeatedly pushed similar material, directing users into “the same tunnel of content you’re used to”. She said regulators worldwide were increasingly examining whether standards were needed to govern algorithmic design, particularly where online systems might manipulate users or reinforce existing beliefs. She warned that regulators could no longer focus solely on policing harmful content, but must also scrutinise how algorithms amplified and repeatedly exposed users to certain material.
“We don’t want to completely dictate what the algorithms show us, but we should at least know whether the way they are being designed right now is harmful and, if so, then maybe we should be trying to set standards for that,” she said. Mediha said digital dependency was not limited to young people, though children and teenagers remained particularly vulnerable due to their lack of life experience in navigating digital spaces safely. Features such as red notification badges, autoplay, and infinite scrolling were intentionally designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible.
“You don’t decide that you want to watch it, but after you watch one video, it just continues playing,” she said. She said responsibility should be shared between users, platforms and regulators. “Platforms take 100% responsibility for the platform de…
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