The Malaysia government has disclosed that plans on are ongoing to ban children below the age of 16 from social media to curb safety concerns on adolescents.
The government held that the measure, which is to take effect from year 2026, became sacrosanct following reports of internet aided crimes perpetrated against the age group which has generated concerns of it’s harm in the society.
The Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, said that the government was looking at how to emulate Australia and other countries with regards to imposing online age restrictions to combat unlawful activities on Children and also ensure their safety.
“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to bar those under 16 from opening social media accounts,” Fahmi said in a video which went viral yesterday.
“So I believe, if the government, government agencies and parents each play their respective roles, we can ensure that the internet in Malaysia is not just fast but most importantly, safe, especially for children and families,” he added.
The move has been backed by the Malaysian populace who called for proper mechanisms to verify the ages of users when they register for accounts.
A survey was conducted after which 72 respondents agreed on the initiative, calling on the government impose hefty fines on erring persons who violate the measure after it’s implementation.
