Social media was initially regarded as a benign platform for youth to connect, learn, and find entertainment. However, this viewpoint is swiftly evolving. Governments globally are encountering increasing demands from parents, educators, and child psychologists who contend that unrestricted social media access can lead to cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, privacy concerns, and detrimental screen time habits. As worries regarding children’s online safety escalate, numerous countries have started to enforce stricter regulations to control the timing and manner in which young users can engage with these platforms. Below are five countries that have enacted some of the most stringent measures to regulate social media usage among children.
Australia
Australia’s legislation mandates that major platforms prevent users under the age of 16 from maintaining accounts on services such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Officials have characterized this prohibition as a measure for child safety, citing issues such as misinformation, bullying, and body-image pressures prevalent online. Proponents argue that this finally holds platforms accountable, while detractors caution that age verification may be easily circumvented.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE has established a minimum age of 15 for social media usage. Children below this age are prohibited from creating or utilizing accounts, whereas those aged 15 and 16 can access platforms with enhanced protective measures. The government asserts that this regulation aims to diminish exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive usage, and the collection of minors’ personal data.
Indonesia
Indonesia has taken steps to deactivate accounts of users under 16 on what it designates as high-risk platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox. The government has associated this policy with issues such as addiction, pornography, online scams, and cyberbullying. This initiative signifies a shift in how child online safety is regarded, now being treated as a public policy matter rather than merely a familial issue.
Malaysia
Malaysia has initiated a requirement for social media platforms with substantial user bases to verify ages and prevent account creation for individuals under 16. This regulation applies to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The government’s rationale is clear: children should not be left to navigate harmful content and inadequate verification systems independently, and platforms should assume greater responsibility.
Britain
Britain has declared a prohibition for users under 16 on major social media applications, with implementation anticipated around Spring 2027. The government states that this initiative is designed to safeguard young individuals from harmful content and excessive scrolling, reflecting a broader effort to hold technology companies accountable for age enforcement rather than solely placing the responsibility on parents.
