.png)
PARENTS will still be permitted to create and operate social media accounts on behalf of children aged 16 and below, provided those accounts are fully supervised, as Malaysia moves towards enforcing a minimum age requirement for social media use.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the policy is intended to ensure that children do not independently manage social media accounts, which could expose them to unwanted contact, data misuse, and other online dangers.
“There are parents who open and manage their children’s accounts, including for digital content purposes such as influencers or content creators,” he said.
“If parents are the ones opening the accounts for their children, then the responsibility to monitor those accounts lies with the parents.”
Fahmi said children face significant risks online if their activities are not closely monitored, particularly when parents are unaware of who their children are communicating with or how their personal information is being handled.
“We do not know who they are talking to, who is sending them direct messages, or what could happen to their data if irresponsible parties communicate with these children,” he said.
He was speaking after launching the Safe Internet Day 2026 celebration organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Previously, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the minimum age requirement for social media use is currently being tested under a regulatory sandbox framework, allowing the government to evaluate enforcement mechanisms before full implementation.
She said the initiative is aligned with the Online Safety Act and that discussions are already under way with social media platform providers to determine the most effective regulatory approach.
Alongside the focus on child safety, Fahmi warned parents and the public to remain alert to online scams, particularly during periods when financial assistance is distributed and festive spending increases.
He said the warning comes as payments under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programme are due to begin, with the Lunar New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaching.
“Certainly, parents will be spending money to prepare for daily expenses, festive preparations, filling angpau and making purchases,” he said.
“Be vigilant because at this time scammers will be rampant. They see this as a ‘fishing’ season. If you receive an SMS that contains a link, do not click it.”
Fahmi said that since last year, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has stipulated that official SMS messages do not contain hyperlinks.
“As such, if the public receives an SMS with a link, it means scammers are using fake base stations to send fraudulent messages,” he said.
“I want to remind everyone once again, please be careful and do not become victims of scammers. If you do become a victim, the National Scam Response Centre is ready to help.”
He added that the National Scam Response Centre now operates a 24-hour hotline at 997 following the opening of a new office and an increase in staffing.
According to Fahmi, reports made to the centre within 30 minutes give authorities a better chance of stopping the outflow of funds and recovering victims’ money.
He also cautioned parents against oversharing personal and family information online, warning that advances in artificial intelligence could be misused to manipulate children’s images or videos for harmful purposes.
“There is no issue if parents are managing the accounts, but they must always remain cautious. Our message is to use the internet safely,” he said. - February 8, 2026
