Malaysia to Ban Social Media for Kids Under 16 by 2024

UPDATE: Malaysia is set to implement a controversial ban on children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, beginning in 2024. This move closely follows Australia’s approach, which enforces a similar restriction starting on December 10, 2023.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced this pivotal decision during a seminar in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, emphasizing the government’s intent to mandate age verification for users on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. “We expect all platforms to implement this by next year,” Mr. Fahmi stated, outlining a potential system known as eKYC, or electronic Know Your Customer, which would utilize government-issued identification and biometric authentication to confirm users’ ages.

This announcement comes amid growing concerns regarding the harmful impact of social media on youth. With around 8 million children under 16 in Malaysia, the ramifications are significant. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has previously highlighted the darker side of social media, linking it to serious incidents, including a tragic case where a 16-year-old girl was murdered by a schoolmate.

While the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has yet to provide detailed comments on the enforcement strategy, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. As Australia gears up to deactivate hundreds of thousands of child accounts in just days, Malaysia’s plan places it alongside countries like Denmark in enacting stringent regulations on young social media users.

Critics of the ban argue that social media can foster positive connections for children, raising questions about the balance between protection and access. Nevertheless, authorities are pushing forward, citing the need to combat cyberbullying, scams, and sexual crimes against minors as primary motivations for this sweeping legislation.

As Malaysia prepares for this landmark decision, the global community watches closely, eager to see how these measures will unfold and what lessons can be learned from Australia’s implementation.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and consider the implications of these changes on young lives.