Malaysia intends to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 16 starting next year, aligning itself with an increasing number of countries that are opting to restrict access to digital platforms due to concerns regarding child safety.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated on Sunday that the government is evaluating the mechanisms employed to enforce age restrictions for social media usage in Australia and other countries, emphasizing the necessity to safeguard young people from online dangers such as cyberbullying, financial fraud, and child sexual exploitation.
“We anticipate that by next year, social media platforms will adhere to the government’s directive to prevent those under 16 from creating user accounts,” he informed reporters, as per a video of his comments shared online by the local newspaper The Star.
The impact of social media on the health and safety of children has emerged as a significant global issue, with companies like TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta Platforms – the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp – facing lawsuits in the United States for their contribution to a mental health crisis.
In Australia, social media platforms are set to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 next month, as part of a comprehensive ban for teenagers that is being closely monitored by regulators worldwide.
France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are also collaboratively testing a model for an age verification application.
Malaysia’s neighboring country, Indonesia, announced in January its intention to establish a minimum age for social media users, but subsequently implemented a less rigorous regulation that mandates tech platforms to filter harmful content and enforce stricter age verification protocols.
In recent years, Malaysia has increased scrutiny on social media companies in response to what it describes as a surge in harmful content, including online gambling and posts concerning race, religion, and royalty.
Platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in Malaysia are now mandated to secure a license under a new regulation that took effect in January.
