Malaysia has officially implemented a ban prohibiting children under 16 from creating social media accounts, joining a growing global movement to enhance safety.
Under the new regulations, major platforms with at least 8 million users, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, must deploy strict age verification systems.
While tech companies continue to face hefty fines for non-compliance, the law spares parents from penalties if their children bypass the restrictions.
According to Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission, the initiative aims to shield minors from cyberbullying, predatory algorithms, and harmful content, emphasizing that the goal is to enforce age-appropriate safeguards rather than restrict access to the internet.
“These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks,” the regulator said in a statement.
Malaysia requires technology platforms to adopt safety-by-design features that curb harmful content, eliminate underage accounts, and prevent manipulative designs that encourage addiction.
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Tech companies are yet to detail their compliance plans even as the regulator has granted them a grace period to implement the age-verification system.
