Malaysia has begun restricting children under the age of 16 from registering accounts on major social media platforms, as the government tightens efforts to protect minors from harmful online content.
The country’s communications regulator announced that from Monday, platforms including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok and Google’s YouTube must verify users’ ages against government-issued records before allowing account registration.
Authorities said companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10 million ringgit.
Malaysia said the new policy is aimed at strengthening online safety for minors and increasing accountability among social media companies, parents and guardians.
The regulator clarified that the policy is not intended to prevent children from using the internet or accessing technology, but rather to improve safeguards around digital platforms.
Age verification for existing users will be introduced gradually over the next six months.
Malaysia has stepped up scrutiny of social media platforms in recent years following a rise in harmful online content and broader concerns around digital safety, especially content linked to racial and religious tensions and material considered harmful to children.
