Malaysia to Follow Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban in 2026

Malaysia plans to ban social media accounts for children under 16 starting next year to protect them from online harm, joining a similar crackdown in Australia.

Malaysia will strengthen online safety for minors through new verification rules, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday.

“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision,” he said.

The Southeast Asian nation will watch how Australia’s under-16 social media ban that starts on Dec. 10 unfolds, Fahmi said.

In October, Malaysia’s cabinet decided to raise the minimum age for social media users to 16 from 13. The ...