The MSA has participated in the Consultation on Social Media Reform. MSA welcomes the recognition of both the social value and the significant challenges associated with social media platforms, particularly concerning vulnerable groups such as children and young people. In this context, the MSA strongly recommends the systematic incorporation of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in the development, implementation, and evaluation of any regulatory or policy reforms concerning social media use and governance.
The International Association for Impact Assessment defines Social Impact Assessment as “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. Social Impact Assessment is an interdisciplinary process that draws on both quantitative and qualitative methods, and should be embedded as an ongoing and participatory practice, rather than a one-off exercise. The MSA emphasises the importance of engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including young people themselves, caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and civil society organisations, in order to better understand how platform design, algorithmic systems, and regulatory measures shape social behaviour. Particular attention should be paid to differentiated impacts across social groups, including children, adolescents, parents, educators, and those already experiencing forms of social or psychological vulnerability. Incorporating SIA within social media reform would enhance policy responsiveness, support evidence-informed regulation, and contribute to more socially attuned, proportionate, and effective governance of digital platforms in Malta.
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