Malaysia to introduce under-16 social media restrictions

Malaysia is preparing to join a growing list of countries restricting young people from using social media. The move is part of a push to protect children from harmful online content.

The change will take effect on June 1, but operators of affected platforms will have a grace period to comply.

The new system will restrict anyone under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts.

Operators will have to implement effective age verification processes, including checks of passports or other official documents.

The new rule will also require licensed operators to have systems to detect and remove harmful content, and mechanisms allowing users to report such content.

The shift comes after the Malaysian government last year obliged operators of major social media platforms and messaging services to secure licenses.

In Kuala Lumpur, parents and children are reacting differently to the change. One mother of three said, "People under 16 aren't mature enough yet to differentiate between what is good or bad when looking at content on social media." She added, "I completely agree with this."

But a 14-year-old boy said the change was not fair because young people "want to watch things too."

Australia and Indonesia have already introduced youth restrictions for social media. Some European countries are taking similar steps.

nhk