Malaysia will prohibit children under 16 from using social networks starting next year.

The Malaysian government has announced that, starting next year, it will ban the use of social media for children under 16, following the example of Australia, which has imposed a similar ban. The Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil, emphasized the need to protect young people from online dangers, such as cyberbullying and sexual abuse. The ban will be part of the new Online Safety Act 2025, which regulates harmful content on digital platforms and imposes responsibilities on online service providers.

Malaysia thus joins other countries that impose age limits due to growing concerns about online safety. The impact of social media on children's mental health has become a global concern, and platforms like TikTok and Meta are facing lawsuits in the U.S. In Australia, accounts of users under 16 will be deactivated next month, and platforms that violate the law risk significant fines. Other countries, such as France and Spain, are testing age verification applications, while Indonesia has announced more lenient regulations for filtering harmful content.