Malaysia bars under-16s from social media account registration

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia has begun barring those under 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms as part of efforts to protect minors from harmful online content. The move places new age-verification requirements on major platforms including Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, TikTok and Alphabet’s YouTube.

Age verification requirements

From Monday, social media platforms must conduct age verification against government-issued records, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said. Existing users will undergo age verification over a six-month period.

Penalties for non-compliance

The regulator said fines of up to 10 million ringgit, or $2.5 million, may be imposed on social media platforms that fail to comply.

Purpose of the measure

The commission said the measure is not intended to prohibit children from using the internet or deny them access to technology. It said the aim is to strengthen responsibility among social media platforms, parents and guardians in protecting minors online.

Broader regulatory scrutiny

Malaysia has stepped up scrutiny of social media companies after finding a sharp rise in harmful online content in recent years. It is also cracking down on material that deliberately tries to stir racial or religious tensions or criticises the monarchy.