Malaysia to bar under-16s from social media under new online safety laws
Malaysia is drafting 10 subsidiary laws under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866) that will prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media and tighten content controls for users under 18, as authorities push to strengthen digital protection for minors.
- Malaysia to ban social media for under-16s and tighten safety controls for under-18s under the new Online Safety Act 2025.
- Platforms must implement age verification, parental controls and submit online safety plans to regulators.
- Public awareness efforts, including the Internet Selamat Campaign, aim to build a safer digital environment for children.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia is moving towards a legal ban on social media access for children aged below 16, with additional safeguards to ensure content for those under 18 remains age-appropriate.
In a parliamentary written reply, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is finalising subsidiary regulations under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866).
The minister was responding to a query by Pang Hok Liong, a Member of Parliament from Pakatan Harapan representing Labis, Johor.
Fahmi explained that under the proposed rules, platform providers must ensure their services are inaccessible to under-16 users.
Content shown to teens must be filtered for suitability, and providers will be required to offer effective parental-control tools aligned with their platform guidelines.
Each provider must also submit an online safety plan demonstrating compliance.
Licensing and Accountability Measures
For platforms that meet licensing thresholds, the government will enforce the requirement to obtain an ASP(C) licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
Fahmi said this ensures providers remain accountable for content governance and algorithm management, especially where minors are concerned.
MCMC has released a Code of Practice specifying duties such as age-verification features, expanded parental settings and enhanced safety tools for young users. The Online Safety Act—gazetted on 22 May 2025—is expected to take effect on 1 January 2026.
Fahmi added that online safety requires collective effort, noting that the ministry launched the Internet Selamat Campaign (KIS) in January to raise awareness on digital harms, cyberbullying, online crimes and safe social media habits among families and children.
Responding to a related query from Barisan Nasional’s Hishammuddin Hussein, the MP for Sembrong, Fahmi confirmed that platforms will be required to provide detailed plans demonstrating how they comply with their obligations under the new legislation.
MCMC is also examining feasible methods for verifying users’ age and identity during account registration or usage to ensure enforcement of age-related restrictions.
Recognising that online safety requires collective effort, the government has also launched the Internet Selamat Campaign, led by the MCMC. Initiated in January, the campaign aims to raise awareness among families and children about safe internet use.
The public education effort covers a wide range of issues including recommended age limits for social media use, cyberbullying, the impact of harmful content, managing one’s digital footprint, and the importance of fact-checking online information.
Fahmi stated that the campaign plays a crucial role in creating a safer digital environment and preventing children from becoming victims of online threats and exploitation.
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