Malaysia will ban social media use for those under 16 beginning next year. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Malaysia will bar children under 16 from social media platforms beginning next year, similar to the way Australia and Denmark have.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday that the Malaysian government may require platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to verify users’ ages. He said the country needed to protect children from cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.
Australia was the first country to implement a nationwide ban for users under 16, and social media sites are expected to kick off kids beginning Dec. 10. How it will be implemented and its effectiveness are still not clear.
“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 told reporters.
The ban falls under the Online Safety Act, which was passed by the Malaysian parliament in December 2024. It law is designed to boost online safety and regulate content and service providers.
Malaysia has about 8 million children under 16, The New York Times reported. Last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that social media was part of the stabbing death of a 16-year-old girl by a 14-year-old classmate. Ibrahim did not give specifics on the case.
In January, the country started requiring licenses to operate social media and online messaging platforms.
