Malaysia is considering a nationwide ban on children under 16 signing up for social media accounts as part of new efforts to strengthen online safety and curb cyber risks, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday, reports AFP.
Fahmi noted that the government is studying approaches taken by Australia and several other countries that have introduced strict age-verification and youth-protection measures. “We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to bar those under 16 from opening social media accounts,” he said in a video published by The Star.
He added that the success of the policy would rely on cooperation from government agencies, platforms, and parents. “If everyone plays their role, we can ensure that the internet in Malaysia is not just fast, but safe—especially for children and families.”
Malaysia has tightened its oversight of digital platforms in recent years amid rising cybercrime. New rules that took effect in January require all social media and messaging services with more than eight million users in the country to obtain a government licence.
Lawmakers across party lines previously expressed support for the proposed under-16 ban, calling for robust age-verification mechanisms when users register. Public sentiment is also largely favourable: an Ipsos Malaysia Education Monitor survey published in September found that 72 percent of respondents support restrictions on children’s social media use.
Globally, governments are moving in a similar direction. In Australia, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok must remove users under 16 from December 10 or face heavy penalties. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has pledged to introduce a comparable bill, while the Dutch government this year advised parents to bar children under 15 from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat.
Meanwhile, five EU countries—Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain—are testing an age-verification app designed to prevent minors from accessing harmful online content.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
