KUALA LUMPUR, 23 November 2025: The Malaysian government has announced that, starting January 2026, children under the age of 16 will be barred from creating social media accounts, as part of a major online safety crackdown.
Key Details of the Policy
- Age Verification: Platforms must implement electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) systems to verify users’ ages using official documents such as MyKad, passports, or MyDigital ID.
- New Age Threshold: The policy raises the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16, following a Cabinet decision made in October 2025.
- Legal Framework: The move aligns with the Online Safety Act, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the measure is intended to strengthen protections for minors online, particularly against cyberbullying, online predators, and other risks associated with unsupervised social media use. He also urged parents to encourage their children to spend more time outdoors and under adult supervision, rather than excessive screen time.
Some Members of Parliament have voiced support for the ban, citing rising concerns over the mental and social well-being of young users. Under the new licensing rules introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), major social media platforms must also obtain a Class Licence if they have more than 8 million users.
Malaysia’s move follows several international trends. For instance, Australia recently passed similar legislation curbing social media access for under-16s. Malaysia has said it will closely monitor how other countries implement their own age-verification mechanisms.
Child-safety advocates argue that age limits alone may not be sufficient. Critics are calling for stronger digital literacy and parental supervision measures, warning that verification systems alone cannot address the root causes of online harm. Meanwhile, some platforms may find implementing eKYC difficult, especially when handling identity documents at scale.
