Malaysia has announced that it intends to ban social media access for users under the age of 16 starting in 2026. The government says the move is aimed at protecting children from rising online harms and follows similar actions taken in several other countries.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday that Malaysia is studying the age restriction methods used in Australia and other nations. He explained that young users face growing risks such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse. “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,” he told reporters in a video shared online by a local daily.
Global concern over children’s online safety has increased sharply. Major technology companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms are facing lawsuits in the United States over claims that their platforms contribute to a mental health crisis among young people.
Australia is preparing to deactivate social media accounts belonging to users under 16 next month under its nationwide ban. Regulators in other countries are watching the rollout closely. France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are jointly testing a model for an age verification application.
Malaysia’s neighbour Indonesia had earlier announced plans to introduce a minimum age for social media use. It later issued a lighter rule requiring platforms to filter harmful content and strengthen age verification processes.
Malaysia has tightened its oversight of online platforms in recent years due to what it says is a rise in harmful content, including online gambling and posts related to race, religion and royalty. Under a new rule that took effect in January, platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users in Malaysia must obtain a licence to operate.
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