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Malaysia is considering implementing age restrictions on social media platforms, prohibiting users under 16 from creating accounts starting next year. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized the government’s goal to enforce compliance with this policy. The move aligns with global efforts to protect children from social media risks, following Australia’s recent legislation. Countries like France, Denmark, and the U.S. states are also adopting similar age-verification measures. The UK’s Online Safety Act mandates platforms to block harmful content for minors, setting a regulatory precedent.

Key facts

• Malaysia plans to ban users under 16 from social media platforms starting next year.
• Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil stated the government aims to enforce age restrictions on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• This initiative follows Australia’s law requiring social media sites to deactivate accounts for users under 16.
• The UK’s Online Safety Act mandates platforms to block harmful content for minors, with strict age verification requirements.
• Over 20 U.S. states have enacted age-verification laws, with Utah leading by requiring app stores to confirm user ages.