PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will look into other countries' efforts to tackle the issue of online safety.

Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this also includes the issue of age limit for social media platforms as is being implemented by Australia.

"At this time, we are also looking into efforts in other countries, not just Australia, in addressing what they see as happening in social media but within the context of their own countries," he said at a press conference.

Yesterday, the Australian government announced plans to impose a minimum age limit for minors to use social media, citing concerns about mental and physical health.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move would also see an age verification trial conducted before introducing age restriction laws involving social media.

However, Albanese did not specify the age limit involved.

Fahmi also said he has repeatedly raised the possibility of imposing an age limit with social media platform providers."Every time we have those discussions, (the platform providers state that they have) their guidelines, not allowing, for example, children under the age of 13 to open accounts.

"However, the reality is that children as young as six and seven years old have accounts on various social media platforms based on my observations on the ground," he said.

He said while social media platforms do set age limits, the enforcement of those policies on their part is very weak.

"Here, we hope that with the licensing process we are imposing, platforms will take more serious steps to reduce and eventually prevent children, especially those under 13, from owning social media accounts," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/1104495/govt-studying-other-countries-approaches-amid-growing-concerns-online