Malaysia: Social media ban for minors sparks privacy debate
Key takeaways
- Malaysia’s ban on under-16s using social media has been framed as a child-safety measure, but critics warn it could prove difficult to enforce and may come at the cost of online privacy.
- The rules, which took effect on June 1, require major social media companies to prevent under-16s from registering or holding accounts.
- There are about 8 million children under the age of 16 in the Southeast Asian country. of some 36 million people.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Malaysia’s ban on under-16s using social media has been framed as a child-safety measure, but critics warn it could prove difficult to enforce and may come at the cost of online privacy.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Em By A senior UN official has argued that blanket bans could backfire and push children towards even riskier online spaces Image: Cristian Bonaviri/Sipa USA/picture alliance Advertisement Malaysia has begun enforcing a ban on children under 16 having social media accounts, making it one of the latest countries to impose age-based limits on young people's access to digital platforms.
The rules, which took effect on June 1, require major social media companies to prevent under-16s from registering or holding accounts. Platforms are expected to verify users' ages and strengthen safeguards against harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, scams and addictive design features.