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Malaysia has started blocking children under the age of 16 from creating new social media accounts as part of efforts to improve online safety for minors.
The new rule took effect on Monday and applies to major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, social media companies must now verify users’ ages using government-issued records before allowing new account registrations. Authorities said the move is targeted at protecting children from harmful online content.
“The measure is not intended to prohibit child users from the internet or to deny them access to technology,” the commission said.
The officials explained that the policy is designed to increase responsibility among social media platforms, parents and guardians in keeping children safe online. Companies that fail to comply with the new rules could face fines of up to 10 million ringgit, equivalent to about 2.5 million US dollars.
Furthermore, the regulator announced that age verification for existing users will be rolled out over the next six months.
Malaysia joins a growing list of countries introducing stricter controls on children’s social media access following growing concerns about the impact of online content on young people’s health, safety and well-being. The government has recently increased monitoring of online platforms following a rise in harmful content, including material that promotes racial or religious tensions.
