Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is preparing to ban social media access for users under the age of 16 starting next year, joining a growing international push to shield young people from online risks.
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the government is studying how countries like Australia enforce age limits, with the aim of rolling out a similar rule nationwide. Fahmi said the move is driven by growing concern over cyberbullying, financial scams, and the spread of child sexual abuse material. He added that the government expects major platforms to comply with the new policy by next year.
The global debate over children’s digital wellbeing has intensified, with companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta facing lawsuits in the United States over their platforms’ impact on youth mental health.
Malaysia’s proposal follows significant steps abroad. Australia is set to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 from next month as part of a sweeping crackdown on teenage social media use. The move has drawn attention from regulators worldwide.
Several European countries – including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are jointly piloting an age verification app to strengthen controls on young users. Neighbouring Indonesia had also signalled plans to set a minimum age for social media accounts earlier this year, but eventually opted for a softer approach, requiring platforms to filter harmful content and tighten verification systems instead.
Malaysia has increased pressure on tech companies in recent years, saying harmful material is spreading more rapidly online. Authorities have cited content linked to online gambling as well as posts touching on race, religion, and the monarchy.
Under new rules introduced in January, social media platforms and messaging apps with more than eight million users in the country must now obtain a licence, giving the government broader oversight over how content is managed. Malaysia’s planned under-16 ban signals a stronger shift toward child-focused digital regulation and places the country among a growing group of nations rethinking how young people engage with social media.
