Following a global trend, the government aims to protect youth from online harms, with plans to compel platform compliance on age restrictions.
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has announced plans to prohibit users under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms beginning in 2026. The move places the country among a growing number of governments worldwide taking regulatory action to shield minors from the perceived dangers of the digital world.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated on Sunday that the government is currently studying age-restriction mechanisms implemented in Australia and other nations. The primary goal is to protect young people from online risks, including cyberbullying, financial scams, and sexual exploitation.
“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,” Fahmi told reporters, according to a video of his remarks posted by local daily The Star.
This initiative reflects escalating global concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and safety. Major tech companies like TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) are facing lawsuits in the United States for their alleged role in fueling a youth mental health crisis.
Malaysia’s decision aligns with similar international efforts. Australia is set to begin deactivating accounts for users under 16 next month, while several European nations, including France and Spain, are jointly testing a template for an age verification application.
The plan also follows regional action. Neighbouring Indonesia recently moved to require tech platforms to implement stronger age verification and content filtering, after initially proposing a stricter minimum age for social media use.
In recent years, Malaysia has increased its scrutiny of social media companies, citing a rise in harmful content. A new regulation that came into effect this January already requires platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in Malaysia to obtain a licence to operate.
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