Malaysia bans social media accounts for children under 16
02.06.2026 - 09:35 | Last Updated:
Malaysia has introduced sweeping new online safety rules that prohibit children under 16 from creating social media accounts and require age verification for existing users, marking one of the region’s most aggressive efforts to protect minors online.
Malaysia has begun enforcing new social media regulations aimed at shielding children from online harms, requiring platforms to verify users’ ages and blocking anyone under 16 from opening new accounts.
The measures, which took effect Monday, are part of the country’s 2025 Online Safety Act and are being overseen by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Under the new framework, social media companies must adopt a “safety by design” approach through a Child Protection Code that requires platforms to build safeguards directly into their products. A separate Risk Mitigation Code obliges companies to conduct risk assessments and strengthen content moderation practices.
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The regulations require both new and existing users to complete age verification. Individuals can verify their identity using Malaysia’s MyKad national identification card, a passport or the government’s MyDigital ID system.
Platforms are also expected to modify recommendation algorithms and content delivery systems to reduce minors’ exposure to harmful material. In addition, paid advertising will only be shown to verified accounts.
Companies that fail to comply with the rules face significant penalties. Authorities said violations of the Risk Mitigation Code could result in fines of up to 10 million Malaysian ringgit, or roughly $2.5 million. Regulators have indicated that companies will be given a transition period to adapt to the new requirements.
The move follows growing concern over online safety and a series of high-profile incidents that authorities have linked to social media activity and online gaming communities.
Among the cases cited by local media was the killing of a schoolgirl by a 14 year-old boy near Kuala Lumpur last year. Investigators reportedly found references to American school shootings, Japanese dystopian anime and gaming culture in materials connected to the suspect. Other incidents involved violent disputes linked to online gaming platforms and cases of sexual abuse recorded and shared online.
Malaysia’s latest restrictions build on broader efforts to regulate major digital platforms. Earlier in 2025, the government introduced a licensing requirement for platforms with more than eight million users. The program initially relied on voluntary participation, but authorities later moved toward mandatory compliance after several major companies reportedly declined to register.
The policy has drawn criticism from free speech advocates, who argue that expanded regulatory powers could create risks for online expression and open the door to censorship.
Malaysia’s approach mirrors a growing international trend toward stricter age-based online protections. Australia introduced one of the world’s toughest social media restrictions last year by banning accounts for users under 16, while Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian nation to prohibit child accounts on major platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X and Roblox before later expanding the restrictions to include e-commerce services.
As governments around the world grapple with the impact of social media on children, Malaysia’s new rules place the country among the most proactive regulators seeking to reshape how young people access digital platforms.