Malaysia to Ban Social Media Use for Under-16s from 2026
Malaysia has announced that beginning in 2026, the use of social media will be banned for users under the age of 16. The country is taking this step amid growing global concern over children’s online safety, Reuters reports.
On Sunday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the government is reviewing age-limit policies in several countries, including Australia, to better protect young people from cyberbullying, financial fraud, and online sexual exploitation.
The minister stated that by next year, social media platforms must stop allowing account creation for users under 16, as per the government’s directive. Concerns are rising worldwide over the negative impacts of social media on children’s mental health and safety. TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta Platforms are already facing lawsuits on this matter in the United States.
In Australia, measures to deactivate accounts of users under 16 will begin next month, and the global community is closely observing this development. France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are jointly testing age-verification applications.
Indonesia had initially planned to impose age restrictions but later adopted a more lenient approach. In recent years, Malaysia has increased monitoring of social media platforms due to rising complaints about harmful content related to online gambling, race, religion, and the monarchy. Now, platforms with more than 8 million users in the country are required to obtain a license.
DBTech/BMT/OR
