.png)
THE nation is preparing to introduce sweeping new regulations to restrict independent access to social media for individuals under the age of 16, as part of a broader effort to strengthen online safety for children.
The policy, expected to take effect by mid-2026, will require social media platforms to prevent users below 16 from independently operating accounts. Instead of a blanket ban, minors will still be allowed access, but under parental supervision.
The move follows a growing global shift towards tighter digital safeguards, particularly after Australia became the first nation to impose restrictions on under-16 users in December 2025.
Under its “delay, not delete” model, accounts are quarantined rather than removed until users reach the legal age threshold.
Malaysia is expected to adopt a similar calibrated approach, prioritising controlled access over outright prohibition.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has previously said the objective is to reduce exposure to online risks, including interactions with strangers and harmful digital behaviour.
The policy is driven by mounting evidence of online threats affecting young users, including cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to harmful content.
Financial and social consequences have also been significant, with Malaysians losing an estimated RM2.7 billion to online scams between January and November 2025.
Authorities have also intensified enforcement efforts, including the seizure of nearly 900,000 child sexual abuse material files during Ops Pedo 2.0 in September 2025.
Additionally, 1,578 requests to remove harmful content involving children were filed between 2022 and early 2026, with a 96 per cent success rate.
A psychiatrist with the Malaysia Psychiatric Association, Dr Ahmad Rostam Zin, described the policy as part of a broader shift in how governments view online harm.
“This is not merely an age restriction. It is a public health-oriented digital governance shift that treats online harm as a systemic issue rather than just an individual behavioural problem,” he said.
He added that younger users are particularly vulnerable due to their developmental stage.
“These concerns are a key driver of the policy. In fact, this decision should be seen more as a child protection and mental health intervention, rather than purely moral or disciplinary in nature,” he said.
Implementation is expected to combine identity verification with parental oversight.
Cybersecurity expert M Selvakumar from Universiti Sains Malaysia said child accounts would likely be linked to verified adult identities, effectively placing responsibility on parents to monitor usage.
“Children’s accounts are essentially ‘represented’ by a ‘verified’ adult, rather than being independently created,” he said.
Restrictions could include limiting contacts and messaging to approved users, as well as monitoring activity levels, although effectiveness will depend heavily on parental involvement.
One of the most significant implementation challenges will be verifying users’ ages. Authorities are expected to rely on systems such as MyDigital ID and electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) mechanisms, including verification through MyKad.
Selvakumar noted that existing identification systems offer the most practical pathway, given their widespread adoption.
Key details remain under discussion, including penalties for non-compliance and how enforcement will be coordinated across global platforms.
Social media companies are expected to play a more active role under the Online Safety Act 2025, which places obligations on platforms hosting user-generated content to implement safeguards, particularly to protect children from harmful exposure.
While the framework signals a decisive policy shift, experts caution that its success will ultimately depend on cooperation between regulators, technology companies and families.
For parents, the new rules will likely require more direct involvement in managing their children’s digital lives, from account creation to ongoing supervision.
The initiative positions Malaysia among a growing number of countries reassessing how minors engage with social media, reflecting a wider transition towards stricter digital governance and child protection standards. - May 4, 2026
