More than half of the 18 million Facebook users in the country are aged 30 years and below, said Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Jailani Johari.

He said they formed 57 percent of Facebook users in Malaysia with 56 percent of them men and 44 percent women.

"Studies also found that this group generally spent four hours and 38 minutes each day to surf the Internet on their personal computers and three hours and 37 minutes using their handphones.

"Even though the statistics are not worrying, we do not want our youths to be too dependent on the social media, especially Facebook, in their everyday lives.

"The youths should be exposed to various outdoor activities to develop the potential in them to lead the future," he said.

Jailani was speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of a youth programme and launching the Hulu Terengganu Flood Volunteers Squad in Kampung Payang Kayu, near here Saturday.

Earlier, in his speech, he said youth organisations should encourage youths to love the country through these programmes. --Bernama