Kuala
Lumpur: Malaysia has begun enforcing rules barring children under 16 from
owning social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety
protections for young users.
The
rules, which took effect from Monday, require social media platforms to
implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating
accounts. They apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Companies that fail to comply could
face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million), but parents whose
children bypass the law will not be penalised.
The
government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful
content, cyberbullying, and platform features designed to encourage excessive
use. Platforms will be required to introduce safety-by-design features,
including protections against manipulative design that encourages compulsive
use, and to take action against underage accounts and harmful content.
Other countries, including Türkiye, Australia, Brazil, and Indonesia, have introduced or announced similar age-based restrictions. Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, and South Korea are also studying or developing similar approaches. Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission said the rules are not intended to prevent children from accessing the internet but to ensure age-appropriate safeguards are in place. A grace period will be given for platforms to complete the implementation of age-verification systems.
