Malaysia bans social media for children under 16

Malaysia has become the latest country to ban social media access for children under sixteen, joining a growing list of nations implementing similar restrictions. The move mandates an age verification system across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, potentially affecting eight million users. Other countries, including Australia, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia, have already introduced bans or strict parental consent requirements for minors. These measures aim to combat severe issues associated with early social media exposure, such as dopamine addiction, cyberbullying, deepfakes, and sextortion. The restrictions are designed to protect minors from predatory behaviour and mental health struggles linked to the digital space. In India, while a nationwide ban has not been implemented, states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have proposed restricting social media and internet access for minors. The global shift highlights increasing concerns over the dark side of the internet and the need for parental supervision to ensure child safety online.