Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission announced Monday that the country is enforcing rules banning children under 16 from holding social media accounts. The regulations apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, mandating age-verification systems to prevent underage sign-ups. Age verification for existing users will be introduced gradually over the next six months, with those identified as under 16 given a month to download or transfer their data before restrictions apply. Companies failing to comply face fines up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million), though parents will not be penalized if their children bypass the law. The measures aim to shield children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and addictive platform features, aligning with global efforts by countries like Australia, Brazil, and Indonesia. Malaysia’s regulator emphasized that the rules do not restrict children’s access to digital technology but seek to mitigate online risks. Tech firms, including Meta, have not yet detailed compliance plans. Meta’s Southeast Asia public policy director, Clara Koh, previously warned that a blanket ban could push teens toward unregulated online spaces. Meanwhile, a U.S. court recently ruled that Meta and YouTube must pay damages for allegedly contributing to a teen’s harm through platform design flaws. Local parents, such as Saravanan Ganasan and Jayaradha Veerasamy, support the ban, citing concerns about unsupervised exposure to harmful content. Their children, aged 12 and 15, are already restricted from using social media unsupervised, with devices kept out of bedrooms and screen time limited to shared areas.