Malaysia is set to implement a nationwide restriction next year that will prevent individuals under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts.
This is a growing global movement by governments to enhance online protections for children and address concerns over mental health and exposure to harmful content.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the planned restriction, stating that the government is currently developing compliance systems that major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, will be required to adhere to.
The initiative mirrors similar actions in other nations. Australia, for example, mandates social networks to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 starting in December. The US has seen 24 states enact age-verification laws.
For Malaysia, the primary concerns driving this policy are the impact of social media use on young people’s mental health, safety, and exposure to harmful content and online manipulation.
