Malaysia may ban users under 16 from using social media starting next year

With Australia’s ban on social media use for users under 16 looming, Malaysia now appears to be planning to implement a similar system starting next year.

The country’s Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadl, has reportedly said that the administration is considering regulations to implement age restrictions on social media platforms, barring users under the age of 16 from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X, Reuters reported.

“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to prevent those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts,” the report quoted Fadl as saying.

Malaysia will join a growing list of countries implementing age restrictions or verification measures to protect children from risks associated with social media use. Australia has already passed a law that will come into effect on December 10, requiring social media sites to deactivate accounts belonging to users under the age of 16.

France, Denmark, Italy and Norway are working on similar age-restricting measures for social media platforms, and in the United States, 24 states have so far enacted age verification laws. Utah has become the first US state to require app stores to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors who download apps.

The UK’s Internet Safety Act also came into force in July, requiring social media and other online platforms to block children’s access to harmful content or face huge fines. The UK requires strict age checks for high-risk content, such as self-harm and eating disorder content, to protect users under 18.