13/01/2026

TUESDAY | JAN 13, 2026 5 Users describe experience of taking break from social media PETALING JAYA: Stepping away from social media, even briefly, can leave young users feeling restless, bored and anxious about missing out, a phenomenon many described to theSun after taking between 24 and 72-hour digital breaks. Among working adults, environmental executive Syaza Lina, 34, who spends about two hours a day on social media, said boredom was her biggest challenge. “The immediate feeling would be boredom. Social media serves as a mental escape for me, helping to distract and ease my mind from heavier thoughts.” Syaza, who deactivated her Instagram nearly a year ago, said the move helped her feel“calmer and more present”in her daily life. “I am more able to live in the moment without the urge to ‘report’ everything on Instagram Stories. “It also reduces the feeling that I am falling behind or missing out.” For heavy users, the impact was sharper. Paralegal Elvina Lucia, 26, who spends more than seven hours daily on social media, said boredom and missing updates would be difficult to manage. “I have never taken a break. If I did, I would likely prioritise work and sleep.” University students shared similar experiences. Communications student Yasmin Hasrina Azman, 24, who spends between five and seven hours daily on social media, said breaking the habit was the hardest part. “I automatically reach for my phone, especially before bed. I feel a bit of fear of missing out (Fomo) and anxiety about what other people are doing.” However, Yasmin said previous breaks helped her discover new hobbies, such as reading and outdoor activities. “Emotionally, I felt less anxious by not making comparisons with others on social media.” Student Ainur Syamsiah Fazli, 24, who spends between seven and eight hours daily on social media, also said habit was the main challenge. “I kept reaching for my phone without realising it. It is less about anxiety and more about feeling disconnected from updates and conversations.” For those managing multiple accounts professionally, the pressure was even greater. Freelance social media manager Syazwan Zikry Saiful Yazan, 23, who oversees more than 10 accounts across several platforms, said missing updates was his biggest concern. “I have several accounts because I handle social media for companies and college committees, so I need to stay updated with trends. But when I leave social media for just one hour, there are already so many new things happening. I am more worried about missing important information. Fomo is real.” Even moderate users felt the pull. Avid TikTok user Ain Hana Mohamad Ridhuan, 23, who spends between two and three hours daily on the platform, said the absence initially felt uncomfortable. “It is not panic or anything, just boredom and slight restlessness at the start. But after a while, I felt calmer and less distracted, although I still missed the entertainment side of it.” Across ages and usage patterns, a clear theme emerged: the initial discomfort is usually mild and tied more to habit than true withdrawal. – By Faiz Ruzman

Unease from digital cutoff only temporary: Researcher

o ‘Symptoms show brain adjusting to loss of constant stimulation, not withdrawal as seen with substance addiction’

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

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

Wan Norbani said her research showed that young users adapt quickly when access to TikTok is removed. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

dead at the scene by Health Ministry personnel and was handed over to police for further action. “No further details are available on the deceased.” He said the operation was concluded at 12.07am after firefighters ensured the area was safe. The operation also involved assistance from other agencies, including police, the Health Ministry, the highway auxiliary police, and the Bagan Ajam and Kepala Batas volunteer fire brigades. – Bernama 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.

“Upon arriving at 10.59pm, we found that a car had skidded and crashed into the toll plaza wall, trapping two victims. “The passenger was extricated by the public before firefighters arrived and was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital by the Health Ministry for further treatment.” He added that the driver was successfully extricated by firefighters using special rescue equipment at 11.15pm, with assistance from a nearby volunteer fire brigade. “However, the victim was pronounced 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

One dead, one injured in toll plaza crash PETALING JAYA: A Pakistan man was killed while his friend was critically injured after the car they were travelling in skidded off the road and slammed into a wall at the Sungai Dua toll plaza here in Kepala Batas, Penang on Sunday. The driver died at the scene while his 42-year-old friend sustained serious injuries. Penang Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director

John Sagun Francis said the department received an emergency call at 10.43pm and a Fire Rescue Tender with eight personnel was despatched to the scene.