00:00One after another country that are banning social media for minors for under 16, under 15 age groups, especially.
00:08There's the claim of harassment, online bullying, cyberbullying that happens, addiction primarily.
00:15Malaysia is now the latest to ban social media, curb and put forth restrictions under 16 years of age groups.
00:22So there will have to be an age verification system that they have put forth, but they have decided to
00:27join.
00:28And this comes in, remember, as one of the Southeast nations to be able to prohibit children under 16 years
00:34of age from holding social media accounts.
00:36This includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
00:39Eight million users could be affected, but there will be a system put in place.
00:43And existing users found to be below the age threshold will be given time to download their content before restrictions
00:49are imposed.
00:50So this is a significant, remember, because more and more nations are taking a call, realizing how youngsters are part
01:00of social media.
01:01Let me now tell you about what other nations have banned social media for the young ones.
01:07One of the first countries to do it was Australia.
01:10Nationwide ban for children under the age of, again, 15.
01:14And this happened in December 2025.
01:15And we've seen one after another the countries that have decided to do so.
01:19Now, why did Australia do that?
01:21What are the steps they're going to implement?
01:23The platforms will have a block underage access.
01:27So there will have to be a proof that will need to be submitted.
01:30If the system realizes that you are below a certain age, you'll not be allowed to be a part of
01:35that platform.
01:36France, recently, again, social media banned for children under 15.
01:40This, remember, is looking at specifically about the interactions that happen by the youth with, you don't know, the strangers
01:48around the world.
01:49So, parental consent, therefore, will be needed for 15 to 18 age groups.
01:54So, under 15 is banned.
01:5515 to 18 will need a certain parental approval and consent.
02:00Italy also, again, another European nation joined in.
02:02Under 14 have been barred without parental consent or at least a supervision of one or both parents that will
02:09be needed.
02:10Again, this is to ensure a certain supervision and guidance when it comes to online interaction.
02:14Stronger age verification systems have been introduced by Italy over their social media platforms.
02:20And we're talking about millions of users considering this generation has literally grown up in the world of digital space.
02:28Also, United Kingdom, amendment was passed to ban the social media for under 16 again.
02:33More implementation of systems that have happened.
02:35Strict social media restriction for the minors as well, especially in cases that have come to be as predatory behavior,
02:44pedophilia, all of that, that is emerging on social media.
02:48So, there are, of course, as you can see, strict social media restrictions that have come in.
02:53And Virginia, the state there in the USA, with enhanced compliance and requirements for platforms that have come in.
03:01So, these are some of the countries that have come in.
03:03Malaysia, of course, as we know, is the latest ban for children under 16.
03:06And again, to ensure that there will be a verification system, 8 million users could be affected when it comes
03:14to Malaysia over Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
03:17Indonesia also, in fact, before Malaysia, Indonesia was the country where social media restriction was placed for children under 16.
03:24Till the time they get a certain maturity to be handling the social media or internet that can have some
03:32dark web spaces as well.
03:34So, the move and aid reducing addiction and cyberbullying.
03:37If you're wondering where is India in this, India has been debating and discussing how social media bans are coming
03:43about.
03:43Remember, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh had put forth proposals to ban social media or internet to a certain extent for
03:50those under 16 and under 15 age groups.
03:53So, we'll see how that goes.
03:54For now, India hasn't put a ban, but could it consider soon?
03:58But why ban?
03:59Why curb social media when it is the digital age after all?
04:02There is the dark side as well.
04:04One, it's the dopamine addiction.
04:07Like drugs, sometimes the kind of substance abuse that we look at, you get addicted.
04:11You have to be on social media.
04:13You have to be scrolling or being on the internet and that can impact you massively.
04:18But then comes in the dark space.
04:20Who are they interacting with?
04:21The risk of cyberbullying, deepfakes, harassment.
04:26Now, the child may not tell the parents who's interacting and who's bullying them.
04:30We know there have been cases where these minors have been forced to take extreme steps, whether it's stealing or
04:36ending their life.
04:37There is a danger of scams.
04:39Remember, we've seen it both with adults and children.
04:42There could be sextortion.
04:43Share their nude pictures without telling their parents.
04:46The demand for money for which they could be stealing.
04:49There could be other different thefts and other steps that minors could be forced to take, thinking it is the
04:55real world, even when parents may not be aware.
04:59Eventually, remember, even if it is not the dark space, even if it is just the addiction that I'm talking
05:04about, it can severely impact mental health.
05:07We spent our childhood and teenage outside, outdoors, primarily exploring, sometimes even in boredom.
05:15But it is for this generation of kids, while they have all the medium right there on their mobile phones,
05:22but it will need guidance and supervision to ensure that they will be safe and secure as they head into
05:29adulthood.
05:29We'll see you next time.
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