Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16

Malaysia has begun enforcing new rules that prohibit children under 16 from creating social media accounts. Platforms with over 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, must implement age-verification systems to block underage users. This measure, aimed at protecting children from harmful content and cyberbullying, will see age verification for existing users rolled out over six months. Companies failing to comply face penalties of up to $2.5 million, though parents are not penalized if their children bypass the law. While some parents support the ban, others worry about potential rebellion and the loss of productive online uses for teenagers. This move aligns with a global trend of governments increasing online safety protections for young users.

Malaysia has implemented new regulations under the Online Safety Act 2025, effective Monday, to enhance online safety. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is enforcing age verification requirements for social media platforms, prohibiting individuals under 16 from creating new accounts. Existing users must also confirm their identities using official government documents like the MyKad, passport, or MyDigital ID. These measures, guided by the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code, aim to reduce exposure to harmful content by requiring platforms to reconfigure algorithms and implement content governance. Social media platforms face significant fines for non-compliance, though a grace period for implementation is provided.