Malaysia plans to ban social media for youngsters beneath 16 beginning subsequent 12 months

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is making ready to introduce a nationwide ban that may cease kids beneath the age of 16 from creating or utilizing social media accounts, a transfer officers say is geared toward defending minors from rising on-line dangers. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the federal government is drafting new laws that may make it unlawful for anybody beneath 16 to have an account on platforms similar to TikTok, Instagram, Fb or Snapchat. He mentioned the proposal comes as Malaysia joins a widening international push to defend kids from on-line exploitation, cyberbullying and inappropriate content material. World momentum behind child-safety bansMalaysia’s announcement follows related strikes world wide.Australia lately mentioned it can implement a nationwide social media ban for youngsters starting in December 2025. Lawmakers in the USA and Europe are additionally debating stricter age-verification guidelines and tighter parental-consent programs. Governments argue that conventional security instruments are not sufficient to guard younger customers amid rising considerations about psychological well being, privateness breaches and publicity to dangerous content material. How Malaysia’s ban would workAccording to Reuters, the upcoming Malaysian regulation might be backed by new regulatory powers requiring social media corporations to strengthen age-verification programs and forestall underage customers from creating accounts. Dad and mom or guardians might additionally face penalties if they assist minors bypass the principles. Fadzil mentioned the federal government is working with know-how corporations, child-welfare teams and educators to finalize the framework forward of the rollout deliberate for 2026. He emphasised that the precedence is to create a “safer on-line atmosphere” for youngsters as digital platforms proceed to affect every day life at an early age. — Businesses

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