Khaberni - The Malaysian government has announced its intention to impose a ban on the use of social media for children under the age of sixteen starting next year, in a step reflecting the rising global concern about the safety of minors on digital platforms.
Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the government is currently studying models from countries like Australia to adopt effective mechanisms to control the ages of users on these platforms.
Fahmi said in a recorded statement published by the local newspaper "The Star" that the purpose of this step is to protect children from the increasing risks on the internet, including bullying, sexual exploitation, and financial fraud.
He added that the government expects social media companies to comply with this decision starting from the beginning of next year, by banning the creation of accounts for users under the age of 16.
This approach is part of a global wave of policies aimed at protecting minors from the negative impacts of digital technology, as Australia is preparing next month to implement a comprehensive ban on accounts for those under the age of 16, while several European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Greece, are testing unified models to apply strict measures for user age verification.
In Indonesia, the authorities earlier announced plans to impose a minimum age for social media users, but later chose less strict measures focused on filtering negative content and tightening the verification mechanisms of age.
These accelerated movements reflect an increasing global awareness that unregulated use of communication platforms can expose children to real risks, and that imposing strict age restrictions is now necessary to ensure a safer digital environment for the emerging generation.
