Under-16s to be banned from social media in 2026

The Malaysian government is set to bar teens under 16 from signing up for social media accounts starting next year, raising the age limit from the earlier proposed threshold of 13.

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil told local media yesterday (23 November) that all platform providers will be required to implement electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) identity verification by then. Registration will rely on official documents such as MyKad, passports and MyDigital ID.

According to an NST report, Fahmi said he hopes social media platforms will fully comply with the government’s decision by next year. Even so, he continued to urge parents to remain vigilant and supervise their children's gadget use.

Don't miss: Putrajaya considers barring under-13s from having social media accounts

As reported by The Star, the ministry will also be observing Australia’s rollout of its own social media age limit next month, while studying how other countries approach similar safeguards.

Fahmi added that the move is part of wider protections under the Online Safety Act, which comes into force on 1 January. It follows last month’s cabinet decision to raise the minimum age for social media users to 16.

The proposal arrives amid mounting concerns over cyberbullying, sexual harassment and behavioural issues among schoolchildren, often tied to early and unregulated exposure to social media.

Back in January this year, Fahmi said that the Malaysian government had no plans to implement age restrictions for online access. Alternatively, the country would take on a more balanced approach when addressing online safety issues, specifically cases involving children, reported Bernama. This includes taking into account the country's socio-cultural background and legal landscape.

However in July, the Malaysian government said it was considering the implementation of stricter enforcement measures on social media usage, including the prohibition of children aged below 13 from owning social media accounts. 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil told parliament, that although social media platforms already have age restrictions in place, it is not currently sufficient. "Unfortunately, if any of the members of parliament here were to meet with any group of students under 13, and ask if they own a TikTok account, many of them will say yes," he said. 

And in October, the proposed age limit was brought up to 16, and supported by MPs in parliament, reported Bernama. The move is aimed at protecting the youth's mental and social development, amidst concerns over the rising incidents of cyberbullying, sexual harrassment, and discipline problems among schoolchildren.

Just last month, Roblox pledged to strengthen safety measures for its young users in Malaysia following heightened scrutiny from government officials over concerns about the impact of online gaming on children.

The platform’s commitment comes in the wake of a troubling incident in Johor involving a six-year-old boy in Kampung Parit Nipah, Johor, who was slashed by his nine-year-old brother on October 27. Police revealed that the older boy became upset after his Roblox game was interrupted, causing him to lose points he had accumulated.

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