Malaysia sticks with regulation over ban on children's social media use

Malaysia will reportedly continue regulating children's access to social media rather than introducing a blanket ban. This is despite a growing number of countries moving to prohibit younger users from accessing such platforms.

According to Bernama, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government's approach is underpinned by two codes of practice introduced under the Online Safety Act: the Child Protection Code and the Risk Mitigation Code. Both came into force on 1 June and require social media platforms to prevent users under the age of 16 from opening accounts.

Speaking to reporters while on a campaign trail in Seremban, Fahmi reportedly said the codes provide a sufficient framework to protect children from online harms without the need for a complete ban. 

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He added that social media platforms are currently working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to implement the new requirements and have requested additional time to fully comply.

Furthermore, the government reportedly has the authority to act against platforms that fail to enforce the minimum age requirement. The minister said that the government's objective is not to ban social media altogether, but to regulate digital platforms more effectively and reduce the risks children face online.

The comments come as several countries tighten restrictions on children's use of social media. France recently passed legislation banning children under the age of 15 from using social media, making it the first European Union country to introduce such an age restriction. The bill, which has the backing of French President Emmanuel Macron, is awaiting gazettement before becoming law.

Australia also introduced a nationwide ban on social media use for those under 16 last year, while the United Kingdom has announced similar restrictions that are expected to take effect next year.

The latest comments build on Malaysia's broader push to strengthen online safety and platform accountability. Earlier this year, Fahmi, said the government was using provisions under the Online Safety Act 2025 to tackle the spread of deepfake content, including taking potential action against social media platforms. Citing investigations, Fahmi said most deepfake material circulating online was distributed via social media platforms, often as paid advertisements targeting Malaysian users. 

He also said enforcement under both the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Online Safety Act had strengthened protections for children, families and vulnerable groups, adding that the government remained vigilant against the misuse of digital technologies such as AI-generated deepfakes and online defamation.

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