Malaysia plans to block users under 16 from creating social media accounts beginning next year, joining a growing list of countries tightening restrictions to safeguard minors online.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the upcoming ban on Sunday, citing escalating concerns over youth safety in the digital space.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Fahmi said Malaysia is studying mechanisms used in Australia and other countries to enforce age-based limits.
“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, in remarks shared by The Star.
The move comes amid rising fears over cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse on digital platforms.
Global concern over social media harms
International scrutiny of social media’s impact on children has grown sharply. Companies such as TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) face lawsuits in the United States over claims that their platforms contribute to a youth mental health crisis.
Australia is preparing to enforce a sweeping ban next month requiring platforms to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16. Regulators worldwide are closely monitoring the rollout.
European countries including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are jointly testing an age-verification app to support stricter compliance measures.
Malaysia’s neighbour Indonesia had planned a similar minimum age for social media use earlier this year but later softened its approach. Instead, it introduced regulations requiring platforms to filter harmful content and implement stronger age verification systems.
Malaysia tightens regulation of tech platforms
The Malaysian government has intensified its oversight of digital platforms in recent years, citing a rise in online gambling, racial and religious sensitivities, and content involving the royalty.
A new regulation introduced in January now requires any platform or messaging service with over eight million Malaysian users to obtain a government license -- part of a broader push to regulate harmful online activities.
