Malaysia enforces social media ban for children under 16

[AP Photo]

Malaysia yesterday began enforcing new rules barring children under 16 from holding social media accounts, joining a growing number of countries seeking to strengthen online protections for young users.

The regulations require major platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, to introduce age-verification systems and prevent users younger than 16 from creating accounts.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said age verification for existing users will be introduced gradually over the next six months. Users identified as under 16 will be given one month to download or transfer data, including photos and videos, before restrictions or suspensions take effect.

Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to 10 million ringgit (US$2.5 million). Parents will not be penalized if their children circumvent the restrictions.

Authorities said the measures are designed to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features that encourage excessive use. The regulator stressed that the rules are not intended to prevent children from accessing digital technology but to improve safety and provide reassurance to parents.

Malaysia joins a broader international trend. Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have introduced or announced age-related restrictions, while Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are considering similar measures.

Technology firms have not yet detailed how they will comply. In April, Meta’s Southeast Asia public policy director, Clara Koh, warned that a blanket ban could drive teenagers away from regulated platforms and into less secure online spaces. She pointed to Meta’s “teen accounts,” which limit contacts, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.

The restrictions come amid growing global concern over social media’s impact on children’s mental health and safety. In March, a U.S. jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case alleging platform design features contributed to harm suffered by a young user.

Opinion among Malaysian parents is divided.

Kuala Lumpur couple Saravanan Ganasan and Jayaradha Veerasamy, whose children are 12 and 15, support the changes. They already prohibit social media use, limit screen time and keep devices out of bedrooms. Their son, Aadhavan, 15, said unrestricted access would likely lead to addiction.

The parents believe the restrictions encourage healthier offline activities, from reading and repairing household items to cooking and crafts.

Others are less convinced. Shaun Hew, a father from suburban Kuala Lumpur, said social media can be useful when supervised. His son uses online platforms to learn cooking, while his daughter relies on YouTube for exam preparation. Hew fears strict bans may simply push teenagers toward unregulated alternatives.

Critics have also raised privacy concerns. Benjamin Loh, a social science lecturer at Monash University Malaysia, said mandatory age verification using government identification could increase risks of data breaches and surveillance. He also questioned the effectiveness of the law, noting that parents could easily create accounts on behalf of their children, limiting its impact. MDT/AP