Malaysia to Ban Children Under 16 From Social Media, Echoing Australia

Government Announces New Age Restriction

The Malaysian government unveiled a sweeping proposal on Sunday that would prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from creating or accessing social‑media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. The move is intended to curb the growing concerns over cyberbullying, online addiction and exposure to harmful content among minors.

Timing Mirrors Australian Legislation

The announcement arrives just weeks before a similar restriction is set to take effect in Australia, where lawmakers have already passed a law requiring parental consent for users under 16. Malaysia’s decision appears to be directly influenced by Australia’s pioneering approach, officials said.

Key Details of the Proposal

While the statement released by the Ministry of Communications and Digital remains light on specifics, the draft legislation is expected to include the following provisions:

• All social‑media platforms operating in Malaysia must implement age‑verification mechanisms.
• Parents or legal guardians will be required to provide consent for any child under 16 to register an account.
• Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to RM 5 million or temporary bans.
• Existing accounts belonging to users under 16 will be suspended until proper verification is completed.

Public Reaction

Reactions have been mixed. Parents and educators largely welcomed the initiative, citing rising rates of screen‑time addiction and mental‑health issues among teenagers. “If we can protect our children from the worst of the internet, it’s a step in the right direction,” said Nurul Aisyah, a primary‑school teacher in Kuala Lumpur.

Conversely, digital rights groups warn that the policy could infringe on freedom of expression and push young users toward unregulated alternatives. “Instead of blanket bans, we need comprehensive digital‑literacy programs,” argued a spokesperson from the Malaysian Digital Freedom Coalition.

Implementation Challenges

Enforcing the age limit poses significant technical hurdles. Many platforms rely on self‑reported birth dates, making verification difficult without a national ID integration system. The Ministry has indicated that it will work closely with major tech companies to develop a secure, privacy‑respecting solution.

What’s Next?

The draft bill will be debated in Parliament over the coming weeks. If approved, the law could come into force as early as early 2026, aligning Malaysia’s digital policy with that of its regional neighbor, Australia.

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