Malaysia is set to introduce a major change to online safety rules: children aged 16 and below will soon be prohibited from owning their own social media accounts.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the Cabinet has already decided on the move, saying it is meant to protect young users from online harm.
“This was the Cabinet’s decision, to prohibit those under 16 from having social media accounts,” he told reporters after officiating the closing of the Cyber Scam Awareness Seminar for the Indian Community today.
He added that the government hopes platforms will fully comply as early as next year.
Govt studying how to enforce the age limit
Fahmi said Malaysia is now reviewing how this policy will be implemented, taking cues from countries like Australia that already enforce general age limits for social media, reported NST.
“Different countries may take different approaches, but we will study which method is most suitable to ensure those under 16 are prevented from having accounts,” he said.
One option being considered is mandatory eKYC verification using government-issued documents such as MyKad, passports, or MyDigital ID, meaning users may soon have to verify their identity before creating an account.
The minister said platforms are expected to roll out these verification features sometime next year.
Aim: A safer internet for kids & families
Fahmi stressed that safeguarding children requires cooperation from the government, regulators, social media platforms, and parents.
“I believe that if everyone plays their role, we can ensure the Internet in Malaysia is not only fast, widespread, and affordable but also safe, especially for children and families,” he said.
The upcoming ban marks one of the strictest online child-safety moves Malaysia has made to date, with more implementation details expected soon.
