24-11-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia aims to bar individuals under the age of 16 from opening social media accounts starting next year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced Sunday, citing a recent Cabinet decision. The new restriction is a critical step aimed at combating cross-age cybercrime and shielding minors from online harms, including sexual predators and cyberbullying, as first reported by The Star and other local media.
To enforce the measure, platforms will be mandated to implement eKYC (electronic Know-Your-Customer) identity verification. This system will require all users to authenticate their age during registration using official identification, such as MyKad or MyDigital ID. The move aligns with the country’s recently enforced Online Safety Act 2025, demonstrating the government’s commitment to tightening oversight on digital access.
Minister Fahmi noted that Malaysia is actively studying the enforcement mechanisms adopted by nations like Australia, which is rolling out similar age restrictions. All platform providers are expected to fully comply with the new mandatory age verification system as the government finalizes its approach to protect children in the digital sphere.
