KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Malaysia plans to ban

social media for users under the age of 16 starting from next

year, joining a growing list of countries choosing to limit

access to digital platforms due to concerns about child safety.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday the

government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age

restrictions for social media use in Australia and other

nations, citing a need to protect youths from online harms such

as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.

"We hope by next year that social media platforms will

comply with the government's decision to bar those under the age

of 16 from opening user accounts," he told reporters, according

to a video of his remarks posted online by local daily The

Star.

The effects of social media on children's health and safety

have become a growing global concern, with companies including

TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms ( META ) -

the operator of Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp - facing

lawsuits in the United States for their role in fueling a mental

health crisis.

In Australia, social media platforms are poised to

deactivate accounts registered to users under 16 next month,

under a sweeping ban for teenagers that is being closely watched

by regulators around the world.

France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are also jointly

testing a template for an age verification app.

Malaysia's neighbour Indonesia said in January it planned to

set a minimum age for social media users, but later issued a

less stringent regulation requiring tech platforms to filter

negative content and impose stronger age verification measures.

Malaysia has put social media companies under greater

scrutiny in recent years in response to what it claims to be a

rise in harmful content, including online gambling and posts

related to race, religion and royalty.

Platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million

users in Malaysia are now required to obtain a license under a

new regulation that came into effect in January.