As many nations take action to restrict access to digital platforms due to worries about children’s safety, Malaysia intends to outlaw social media for users under the age of sixteen starting next year.
Citing the need to protect young people from cyberbullying, financial frauds, and child sexual exploitation, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced on Sunday that the government was examining methods used in Australia and other countries to enforce age restrictions.
He told reporters, “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,” in a video of his comments that the local daily The Star put online.
With companies like TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta Platforms—the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—facing legal action in the US for allegedly contributing to a mental health crisis, the effects of social media on children’s health and safety have become a global concern.
Next month, Australia will deactivate accounts belonging to users under the age of sixteen. This broad prohibition for juveniles is being widely watched by regulators across the globe. Additionally, a template for an age-verification app is being tested collaboratively by France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece.
Indonesia, a neighboring country, first declared in January that it would impose a minimum age on social media users. However, it ultimately decided to adopt a less strict law that would have required tech companies to censor offensive content and provide more robust age-verification procedures.
In reaction to what it claims is an increase in harmful information, such as posts about race, religion, and royalty, Malaysia has increased supervision of social media businesses in recent years.
A rule that went into effect in January requires platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million users in the nation to apply for a license.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
