Kuala Lumpur (TDI): Malaysia is set to ban social media for young users under the age of 16 from next year, due to concerns over digital safety and unhealthy exposure.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the ban will be enforced through strict age-verification measures. “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 said.
Social media companies operating in Malaysia will be required to adopt electronic Know-Your-Customer (eKYC) systems, which authenticate users through official documents such as MyKad, passports, or the national digital identity system.
The initiative follows a Cabinet decision in October to raise the minimum age for social media access from 13 to 16. It will be implemented under the forthcoming Online Safety Act, a wide-ranging law aimed at strengthening digital protections for children and scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2026.
Government officials say the move is intended to curb a rising tide of online risks, including cyberbullying, financial scams, grooming, and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.
Fahmi emphasized that the digital environment has grown increasingly dangerous for young users and urged parents to monitor screen time and encourage more outdoor and offline activities.
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Malaysia’s move reflects a broader international shift toward stricter online protections for minors. Countries like Australia are preparing similar regulations, with major social platforms expected to disable accounts belonging to users under 16.
Several European states, including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece, are also piloting unified age-verification systems to curb underage use.
Malaysia has alo recently tightened regulatory oversight of social media companies. Platforms with more than eight million local users are required to obtain operating licenses under a new framework introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Officials say combining licensing requirements with age-verification rules will strengthen accountability and create a safer online ecosystem for families.
The government maintains that the new restrictions will form a crucial first step toward safeguarding Malaysian children from the dangers of an increasingly complex digital world.
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