Malaysia becomes latest country to bar social media for under-16s

Malaysia has officially begun banning children under the age of 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms. According to a report by news agency Reuters, the country’s communications regulator announced the strict new rules on Monday (June 1) as part of a major push to protect minors from harmful online content. With this move, the Southeast Asian nation joins a rapidly growing list of global governments removing kids’ access to digital platforms due to rising worries over how social media affects children's safety and health.According to the new rules, major social media networks, including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, must actively verify the age of their users against official government-issued records.The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reportedly made it clear that tech companies must comply or face severe financial consequences. Moreover, tech platforms that fail to properly verify user ages may be hit with massive fines of up to 10 million ringgit (approximately $2.5 million).When it comes to teenagers who already have active accounts, the new rules will not lock them out overnight as the companies have been given a six-month grace period to roll out and implement age verification systems for all existing users.The Malaysian government emphasised that the new law is not a war on technology.“The measure is not intended to prohibit child users from the internet or to deny them access to technology,” the regulator stated, explaining that the goal is to ensure social media companies, parents, and legal guardians take more responsibility for keeping children safe while they browse online.This youth ban comes at a time when Malaysia is increasing its scrutiny of big tech firms. Authorities have reported a sharp rise in harmful online material over the last few years.Beyond protecting children, the government is also using its regulatory powers to crack down on internet content that criticises the Malaysian monarchy or deliberately attempts to stir up racial and religious tensions across the country.