Malaysia Unveils Plan to Limit Social Media Use for Minors Under 16
In a move aimed at curbing the negative impact of social media on children, Malaysia's cabinet has approved a plan to ban social media accounts for anyone under the age of 16. The proposed regulation is set to come into effect in 2026 and will require all social media platforms with over eight million local users to implement robust age verification measures.
Under the new rules, minors under 16 are expected to be barred from accessing popular social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube, and Twitch. The ban is part of a broader effort by Malaysian authorities to ensure that the internet in the country remains safe for children and families.
Malaysia's move is seen as a response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on minors. The country's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has stated that the government aims to create an online environment that is not only fast, widespread, and affordable but also safe and secure.
The Malaysian government's approach has been influenced by the success of electronic ID verification checks in Australia. In December next year, Australia will enact its own blanket social media ban for anyone under 16-years-old, with fines of up to $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD) for non-compliance.
Other countries have also taken steps to limit minors' access to social media. Denmark, for instance, has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, citing concerns over sleep disruption and increased pressure from digital relationships.
In the United States, some states have attempted to enact their own restrictions on social media use by minors. Utah, for example, requires teens to obtain parental consent before creating a social media account, while Texas has passed legislation that would require consent from parents or guardians for under-16 users but is currently held up in court.
The Malaysian ban is set to join the growing list of countries seeking to regulate social media use by minors. As concerns over social media's impact on children continue to grow globally, governments around the world are taking steps to create a safer online environment for their citizens.
In a move aimed at curbing the negative impact of social media on children, Malaysia's cabinet has approved a plan to ban social media accounts for anyone under the age of 16. The proposed regulation is set to come into effect in 2026 and will require all social media platforms with over eight million local users to implement robust age verification measures.
Under the new rules, minors under 16 are expected to be barred from accessing popular social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube, and Twitch. The ban is part of a broader effort by Malaysian authorities to ensure that the internet in the country remains safe for children and families.
Malaysia's move is seen as a response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on minors. The country's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has stated that the government aims to create an online environment that is not only fast, widespread, and affordable but also safe and secure.
The Malaysian government's approach has been influenced by the success of electronic ID verification checks in Australia. In December next year, Australia will enact its own blanket social media ban for anyone under 16-years-old, with fines of up to $49.5 million AUD (approximately $32 million USD) for non-compliance.
Other countries have also taken steps to limit minors' access to social media. Denmark, for instance, has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, citing concerns over sleep disruption and increased pressure from digital relationships.
In the United States, some states have attempted to enact their own restrictions on social media use by minors. Utah, for example, requires teens to obtain parental consent before creating a social media account, while Texas has passed legislation that would require consent from parents or guardians for under-16 users but is currently held up in court.
The Malaysian ban is set to join the growing list of countries seeking to regulate social media use by minors. As concerns over social media's impact on children continue to grow globally, governments around the world are taking steps to create a safer online environment for their citizens.
anyway seriously though this is kinda cool i guess. I mean, social media can be super toxic and it's actually kinda harsh that some kids are already dealing with that kind of crap at such a young age. but on the other hand, i'm all about online freedom so this feels like overreach to me 
still though if it means some Aussie kid is gonna get fined $32 million for posting a meme that's too funny 
then im down
16 seems like such an old age lol but idk its not like they r tryna ban social media wen u outgrow it 
what if its better 4 kids 2 focus on real life 4 a change 
but @ the same time i kinda see where dey r comin from 
all dese reports bout social media being bad 4 kids and teens 
my fave platform tiktok is like super popular in malaysia btw 
what if its 1 big move 2 curb online drama n stuff 
. I mean, have you seen what some kids do online? It's crazy! 
They're constantly comparing themselves to others, getting cyberbullied, and even exposing themselves to mature content. It's not healthy at all! 
. We need to make sure that only responsible adults are allowing our kids to join social media platforms in the first place.
. It's time for other countries to follow suit and take action to protect our kids online 
. I mean think about it, kids these days spend more time staring at screens than playing outside. It's crazy! 
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I mean think about it, kids these days are glued to their screens all day and it's affecting their mental health and relationships 
Social media can be toxic, especially for young minds. It's time for the government to step in and set some boundaries.
They need to focus on school, friends, and family first. Australia's electronic ID verification checks are a great idea 
That'll keep them in line.
. and yeah, sleep disruption is a big deal for kids nowadays... my friend's kid has trouble sleeping because he's always on his tablet before bed 
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