Malaysia Bans Under‑16s From Creating Social Media Accounts in Major Online Safety Push

Malaysia has begun enforcing a new rule that bars anyone under the age of 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms, the country’s communications regulator announced on Monday, June 1, as part of efforts to protect minors from harmful online content.

The move places Malaysia among a growing number of countries tightening regulations on children’s access to digital platforms amid rising concerns about the impact of social media on youth safety and mental health.

Under the new directive, major platforms—including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Alphabet’s YouTube—must conduct age verification checks against government‑issued records to ensure compliance, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said.

Platforms that fail to comply may face fines of up to 10 million ringgit (US$2.5 million).

According to the MCMC, the measure is not intended to block children from the internet entirely but to strengthen accountability among platforms, parents and guardians in safeguarding minors online.

Age verification for existing users will be rolled out over a six‑month period.

Malaysia has intensified scrutiny of social media companies after recording a sharp rise in harmful online content in recent years. Authorities are also cracking down on material that stirs racial or religious tensions or criticises the monarchy.

Source: Reuters