Kaula Lumpur, August 13: The Malaysian government is considering a limited ban on Internet services for teens under the age of 17 between 12 AM and 6 AM daily, according to media reports.

Malaysia's Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Cye, reportedly told the parliament on Monday that around 34.9 per cent of Malaysian teens between the ages of 14 and 17 showed a 'prevalence towards Internet addiction', and cited a Health and Morbidity studies conducted in 2017.

The report mentioned that South Korea and Japan have put a similar ban on the Internet for teens during specific hours. The Malaysian government also, is trying to tackle the issue of 'social media' teen addiction and online gaming.

The Deputy Health Minister also informed the parliament that certain gaming providers have taken measures to restrict users under 17 from accessing their games during several specific hours.

A parliamentary question from Lukanisman Awang Sauni, who asked whether social media and video gaming addiction could be put in the list of mental problems, encouraged the Malaysian government's response of restricting Internet use.

The World Health Organisation, in its latest report, listed that video game addiction is a mental health illness, whereas earlier it was classified as a mental disturbance. The ICD, a diagnostic manual published by the WHO, was last updated in 1990 and its new edition, ICD-11, has included gaming disorder as a serious health condition that needs to be monitored.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2018 08:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).