Malaysia is moving to follow Australia’s lead with a plan to block children under 16 from opening social media accounts next year, the country’s strongest step yet to curb online risks faced by young users.
The Malaysian government said it is reviewing age-restriction systems used in Australia and parts of Europe as countries worldwide adopt tougher rules for young users.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government wants platforms to fully comply with the new age limit within the year, citing rising cases of cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual exploitation.
“We hope by next year that social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to bar those under the age of 16 from opening user accounts,” the communications minister told reporters, according to local media footage.
The plan would place Malaysia among a small but growing group of early adopters of age-based restrictions, alongside countries like Australia and Denmark.
It comes as global tech giants—including TikTok, Snapchat, Google, and Meta—face mounting legal and regulatory pressure over allegations that their platforms worsen mental health risks for young people.
In Australia, hundreds of thousands of accounts belonging to minors are expected to be shut down next month under a newly enacted rule that has drawn international attention.
Regulators in France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece are also jointly testing an age-verification app that could serve as a model for other governments.
Malaysia appears to be moving in that direction. Fahmi said the government is evaluating the use of electronic Know-Your-Customer (eKYC) systems, commonly used in banking, which would require platforms to verify user identities through government-issued IDs or biometric data.
If adopted, it would be one of Malaysia’s most intrusive regulatory measures toward the tech sector to date.
Public concern over children’s safety online intensified recently after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested that social media played a role in a case involving the killing of a 16-year-old girl by a 14-year-old schoolmate.
Malaysian government officials say roughly eight million children under 16 are exposed to harmful content, including gambling, extremist narratives, and harassment linked to race, religion, and the monarchy.
The proposed age ban also fits into Malaysia’s broader tightening of digital regulation. Since January, platforms and messaging services with over eight million users have been required to obtain a government license, part of a wider effort to curb scams, misinformation, and the exploitation of minors.
Other countries in the region are watching closely. Indonesia previously considered setting a minimum social media age but ultimately opted for a softer approach, requiring companies instead to enforce stronger age checks and filter harmful content.
