Kuala lumpur: Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from owning social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users. The new regulations require social media platforms to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts. These rules apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Malaysian government stated that these measures aim to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and platform features designed to encourage excessive use. This initiative is part of a broader global movement, with countries like Australia, Brazil, and Indonesia having introduced or announced age-based restrictions and requirements governing children's access to social media. Other nations are also studying or developing similar measures to enhance online safety for young users.
