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Malaysia to Bar Children Under 16 from Social Media, Citing Safety Concerns
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Beginning next year, children under the age of 16 in Malaysia will be prohibited from using social media platforms, a move that mirrors similar initiatives in Australia and Denmark. The Malaysian government, through its Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, announced the impending ban on Sunday, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard minors from online threats such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.
Minister Fadzil indicated that social media giants like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok may be mandated to implement age verification systems to enforce the new regulation. “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,” Fadzil stated to reporters.
This ban falls under the purview of the Online Safety Act, a piece of legislation passed by the Malaysian parliament in December 2024, designed to enhance online safety and regulate digital content and service providers.
Australia was the first nation to introduce a nationwide prohibition for users under 16, with social media sites expected to begin enforcing age restrictions on December 10. The precise implementation and long-term effectiveness of these bans remain to be fully observed.
With approximately 8 million children under 16 in Malaysia, the impact of this new policy is significant. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently linked social media to a tragic incident last month, where a 16-year-old girl was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old classmate. While specific details of the case were not disclosed by the Prime Minister, the mention underscores growing concerns about the influence of online platforms on young people.
Earlier this year, Malaysia also implemented a requirement for licenses to operate social media and online messaging platforms, signaling a broader governmental effort to exert greater control and oversight over the digital landscape.