TikTok, Meta Face Tough Curbs in Asia Even as Such Efforts in US Stall

Some of the toughest new laws attempting to rein in TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are not coming from Washington or Brussels.

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They are emerging from capitals such as Canberra, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur.

Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are leading the global charge to protect children from online harms, presenting an unprecedented challenge to the likes of ByteDance, Meta Platforms, and Snap in markets with some of their largest and most youthful user bases.

Australia, late in 2024, passed a law requiring social media platforms to keep children under the age of 16 off their services. New Zealand's governing party last week put forward a bill that mirrors Australia's move.

Indonesia is formulating restrictions for those under 18 accessing social media. Malaysia is requiring social media firms to obtain licenses to operate in the country, while Singapore's policymakers have signaled they are open to minimum-age laws.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is requiring foreign social platforms to verify their users' accounts and provide the authorities with their identities on demand, and Pakistan wants such firms to register with a new agency.

"I've met with parents who have lost and buried their child. It's devastating," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in November. "We can't as a government hear those messages from parents and say it's too hard. We have a responsibility to act."

To be sure, it is unclear how strictly some of the measures will be enforced. Social media titans also face headwinds elsewhere, such as the European Commission's Digital Markets and Digital Services Acts, along with moves by other nations attempting to curb children's access to the platforms.