From 2026, Malaysian residents under the age of 16 will not be allowed to register social media accounts.

Speaking at a recent cyber scam awareness seminar, Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil reiterated the Malaysian Government’s plan to ensure online safety for children. Accordingly, starting next year, social media platform providers will be required to implement identity verification measures to ensure that users meet the minimum age requirement.

Fahmi clarified that the regulation banning children under 16 from using social media has already been planned for implementation in Australia starting next month. Other countries may also be pursuing their own approaches, and Malaysia will study and learn from them to develop the most effective measures.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to protect Malaysian children under the Online Safety Act, which comes into effect on January 1, 2026.

In the meantime, the minister urged parents to encourage their children to participate in outdoor activities to reduce screen time on phones and computers, while closely monitoring their use of electronic devices.

Last month, the Malaysian Cabinet decided to raise the minimum age for social media users to 16, up from the previously proposed 13, while also requiring social media platforms to verify users’ ages during registration through official documents such as MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID. In addition, the Cabinet discussed establishing a special task force to identify issues faced by schools nationwide.

According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Cabinet is also considering a ban on smartphone use for individuals under 16.

VNA