According to the new regulation, companies operating social networks will have to mandatorily verify the age of users.
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Malaysia has implemented a new legal system, tightening the use of social media by children under the age of 16. According to the rule, which came into effect on Monday, children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to open or operate personal accounts on social media.
According to the new system, companies operating social media will have to verify the age of users. In addition, the companies concerned will be responsible for preventing children under the age of 16 from registering accounts and identifying and preventing such accounts.
This rule will apply to major social networks with millions of users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Companies that do not comply with the rule can be fined up to 10 million Malaysian ringgit.
The Malaysian government has stated that this step is aimed at protecting children from harmful content spread online, cyberbullying, psychological pressure, and excessive use of social media. According to the government, strict regulation is necessary due to the increasing risks to children through digital media in recent years.
However, no legal action will be taken against parents in cases where children have opened accounts by circumventing the rules by adopting various measures. The government is reportedly focusing on holding social media companies accountable.
Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission has clarified that the policy is not intended to keep children off the internet, but to create a safe and age-appropriate digital environment for them.
Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world to take such a step. Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have already implemented strict rules on children's access to social media, while countries including the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are also moving forward with similar policies.
