Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has introduced new online safety regulations requiring major social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prevent children under the age of 16 from creating accounts. The rules came into effect on Monday as part of the country’s efforts to strengthen online safety and protect young users from harmful digital content.

The new requirements apply to social media platforms with at least 80 lakh users in Malaysia, including popular services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Age verification now mandatory

Under the new regulations, social media companies must implement age verification measures to ensure users are at least 16 years old before registering an account.

According to guidelines issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), platforms may use government-issued identification documents such as identity cards or passports to verify a user’s age.

Authorities have clarified that children below the age of 16 will not be permitted to create new social media accounts under the revised framework.

However, the regulator has also announced that companies will be given a grace period to implement the new measures, although the exact duration has not been specified.

New online safety obligations

The regulations form part of Malaysia’s Online Safety Act and include the newly introduced Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code.

Beyond age verification, social media companies are now required to strengthen content moderation systems and take proactive steps to reduce harmful online content.

Platforms must establish effective reporting and response mechanisms, verify advertisers and label manipulated or misleading content where appropriate.

The government says the measures are designed to create a safer digital environment for children and teenagers while encouraging responsible use of online platforms.

Heavy penalties for non-compliance

Companies that fail to comply with the new regulations could face significant penalties.

The MCMC has warned that violations of the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code may result in fines of up to 1 crore Malaysian ringgit (approximately USD 2.5 million).

Regulators have indicated that enforcement will focus on ensuring social media providers take meaningful action to protect younger users from harmful content and online risks.

Part of a growing global trend

Malaysia joins a growing list of countries introducing stricter controls on children’s access to social media.

Earlier, Australia became the first country to require major social media platforms to remove accounts held by users under 16 or face substantial fines. Similar measures have also been introduced in Indonesia, where authorities imposed restrictions on social media access for children under 16.

Other countries, including Turkey, Norway, France, Spain and Denmark, have also announced plans to tighten age restrictions on social media use.

Governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about the impact of excessive social media use on children, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, mental health challenges and internet addiction.

Rights groups oppose blanket ban

Despite the government’s intentions, the new rules have faced criticism from digital rights and child advocacy organisations.

A coalition of monitoring groups, including Article 19, has urged Malaysian authorities to reconsider what they describe as a blanket social media ban for children under 16.

The groups argue that children should be able to access digital technologies safely rather than being excluded entirely from online spaces.

According to the organisations, the restrictions do not address deeper concerns related to the business models and algorithms used by social media companies, which they believe contribute to many of the risks faced by young users online.

Balancing safety and digital access

Malaysian authorities maintain that the regulations are not intended to deny children access to technology but to ensure age-appropriate use of social media platforms.

As implementation begins, social media companies will need to develop systems capable of verifying users’ ages while balancing privacy concerns and regulatory requirements.

The effectiveness of the new rules will be closely watched by policymakers around the world as countries continue searching for ways to protect children while preserving access to digital opportunities.