Malaysia is getting ready to make a big change to how young people use the internet. Starting in 2026, the country plans to ban anyone under the age of 16 from opening social media accounts, a move aimed at protecting children from the rising risks of the digital world.
As per a Reuters report, the announcement came from Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who said the government is closely studying how countries like Australia are enforcing age limits online. He explained that Malaysia wants to shield its young users from a range of online dangers — from cyberbullying and financial scams to more serious threats like child sexual abuse. According to him, discussions are already under way with major social media platforms to ensure they follow the rule by next year.
The debate around social media and children is not new. Globally, tech giants like TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — are already facing lawsuits in the United States for allegedly contributing to a growing mental health crisis among teenagers. As a result, more governments are tightening their laws.
Australia, for instance, is preparing to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 as early as next month. That move has caught the attention of regulators around the world. Meanwhile, European countries including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are working together to test a new age-verification app that could make enforcing minimum age limits much easier.
Closer to home, Indonesia had also signalled plans to introduce a minimum age for social media users earlier this year. But it later softened its approach, instead requiring tech companies to clean up harmful content and strengthen their age checks.
For Malaysia, the push for stricter rules comes after years of growing concern over harmful online content — from illegal gambling to sensitive posts involving race, religion, and the monarchy. Under a law that took effect in January, any platform with more than 8 million
Malaysian users must now obtain a licence to operate in the country.
As Malaysia prepares for this new chapter, the big question is how smoothly social media companies will adapt — and how the country’s young users will respond when the ban finally kicks in next year.
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