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Summary:

Malaysia is planning to ban social media access for users under the age of 16 starting next year. The move comes in response to growing concerns about the negative impact of social media on child safety and mental health, including cyberbullying, scams, and child sexual abuse. The Malaysian government is studying similar age restriction mechanisms in Australia and other nations. This decision follows increased scrutiny of social media platforms in Malaysia regarding harmful content and a new regulation requiring platforms with over 8 million users to obtain a license. Other countries, including Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece, are also taking steps to regulate social media use by minors.

News Article:

Malaysia to Ban Social Media for Under-16s Amid Child Safety Concerns

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia plans to ban social media access for users under the age of 16 starting next year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced on Sunday, November 23rd. The move is designed to protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.

“We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts,” Minister Fadzil stated, according to a video posted by The Star.

The government is currently reviewing age restriction mechanisms used in Australia, where a similar ban is set to be implemented next month. This comes as the impact of social media on children’s mental health and safety faces increasing global scrutiny. Companies like TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta Platforms are already facing lawsuits in the United States related to this issue.

Several other European countries including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are also experimenting with age verification apps. Neighboring Indonesia has also issued regulations requiring social media platforms to filter negative content and strengthen age verification processes.

Malaysia has been increasing its oversight of social media companies in recent years, citing a rise in harmful content such as online gambling and posts related to race, religion, and royalty. Platforms with over 8 million users in Malaysia are now required to obtain a license under a new regulation that took effect in January.

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