Malaysia says it will ban social media for under-16s from next year

"Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from next year, joining a growing list of countries choosing to limit access to digital platforms due to concerns about child safety. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday the government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age restrictions for social media use in Australia and other nations, citing a need to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams and child sexual abuse."

"We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government's decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts, he told reporters, according to a video of his remarks posted online by local daily The Star. The effects of social media on children's health and safety have become a growing global concern,"

"Malaysia's neighbour Indonesia said in January it planned to set a minimum age for social media users, but later issued a less stringent regulation requiring tech platforms to filter negative content and impose stronger age verification measures. Malaysia has put social media companies under greater scrutiny in recent years in response to what it claims to be a rise in harmful content, including online gambling and posts related to race, religion and royalty."

Malaysia will ban social media accounts for users under 16 starting next year. The government is reviewing age-restriction mechanisms used in Australia and other countries to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams and child sexual abuse. The move aligns with global actions including planned Australian deactivations for under-16s and European testing of an age verification app. Indonesia adopted a less stringent approach requiring content filtering and stronger age verification. Malaysia has increased scrutiny of platforms over harmful content, citing rises in online gambling and posts related to race, religion and royalty.

Read at www.aljazeera.com