Children Under 16 Will No Longer Be Able to Use Social Media; This Country Has Imposed a Ban..

Malaysia has taken a major and stringent decision regarding the online safety of children. Starting June 1st, children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to create new accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. To enforce this, social media companies will be required to verify the age of their users. The government states that this measure has been taken to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and online threats. Following this decision, a new debate regarding children's online safety could potentially emerge in several countries, including India.

**New Legislation Introduced for Child Safety**
The Malaysian government has implemented new regulations under the Online Safety Act, aimed at shielding children from the dangers of the internet. According to the new legislation, children under the age of 16 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media platforms operating within the country that have a user base exceeding 8 million. To ensure compliance, companies must verify users' ages using identification cards, passports, or other government-issued documents. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has explicitly stated that individuals under the age of 16 will not be permitted to register for social media accounts. Existing users will also be required to complete the age verification process within the next six months.

**Increased Responsibility for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok**
Under the new regulations, the responsibilities of major platforms—such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—have significantly increased. The government has directed these companies to take strict action against harmful content, strengthen their reporting systems, and verify the identities of advertisers. Furthermore, it will be mandatory to clearly label any altered or misleading content. If a platform fails to comply with these regulations, it could face fines of up to 10 million Malaysian Ringgit. The government believes that these measures will help foster a safer digital environment for children and mitigate online risks.

**Will a Similar Debate Begin in India?**
Malaysia is not the only country to have taken such a step. Australia has already implemented social media restrictions for children under the age of 16. Indonesia has also implemented strict regulations for children on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Furthermore, France, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Denmark, and Norway are also working on new regulations regarding children's online safety. In India as well, millions of children use social media daily, and concerns regarding cyberbullying, online fraud, and harmful content are continuously on the rise. Currently, there are no national-level restrictions in India for children under the age of 16; however, amidst the growing regulatory landscape worldwide, discussions surrounding this issue are likely to intensify.

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