After Australia, Malaysia has now announced plans to ban children under 16 from using social media starting in 2026.The move comes as the government works to protect young people from increasing online dangers such as cyberbullying, scams and exposure to harmful content. The decision was shared by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, as reported by Reuters. 

Speaking to reporters on Sunday (23 November 2025), the minister said that the government is currently studying how other countries, including Australia, are enforcing age limits on social media. He said that Malaysia wants to ensure that minors are safe on digital platforms. “We hope that by next year, social media platforms will follow the government’s decision to block children under 16 from opening accounts,” he said, according to local media outlet The Star.

This proposal comes at a time when many countries are debating how social media affects children’s health, mental well-being and safety. Several major technology companies such as TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) are currently facing legal actions in the United States. They are accused of contributing to a rise in mental health issues among teenagers through addictive features and unsafe environments online.

Australia is preparing to launch strict rules soon, where social media platforms will be required to remove or deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 starting next month. Many other countries are watching Australia closely to see how these rules will work. In Europe, countries like France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are testing a new age-verification app to help ensure that children do not lie about their age when signing up.

Neighbouring Indonesia also discussed creating a minimum age rule earlier this year but instead decided to introduce milder regulations. These require platforms to improve age checks and restrict harmful content rather than banning accounts entirely.

In Malaysia, pressure on social media companies has been growing. Authorities say they are alarmed by the spread of content related to online gambling and posts involving race, religion and the royal family.

Under new rules introduced in January, any online platform with more than eight million users in Malaysia must now obtain a licence to operate. Reuters reported that the upcoming age ban is part of a wider effort to tighten control over digital platforms and make tech companies more responsible for user safety.