Malaysia Moves to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16 Starting Next Year

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — In a move aimed at shielding young users from online dangers, the Malaysian government has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts. The restriction, expected to take effect next year, will apply to popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil explained that the government is drafting legislation to enforce the ban. He emphasized that the measure is designed to protect children from online threats including exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content.

“Children below 16 years of age will not be allowed to create or maintain social media accounts,” Fadzil said. “This step is in order to protect young children from online threats such as exploitation, cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.”

The move follows a broader trend in Southeast Asia, where countries like Indonesia have introduced stricter regulations for young social media users, requiring platforms to filter harmful content and implement robust age verification measures.

Malaysia has also tightened oversight of social media in recent years, citing a rise in harmful content, including posts related to gambling, race, religion, and royalty. Platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users in Malaysia are now required to obtain official licenses, under new regulations implemented in January.

The government’s announcement signals a strong commitment to child safety online and adds Malaysia to a growing list of countries introducing age-based restrictions on social media use.

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