Malaysia started enforcing rules preventing children under 16 from joining social media platforms on Monday as part of a global initiative to tighten online safety protections for younger users.
The new rules require social media platforms with at least 8 million users, such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube, to implement age-verification systems and block any user under 16 years of age from creating an account.
Companies that do not adhere to the rules will face a penalty of up to 10 million ringgit.
The Malaysian government explained that the measures were taken to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and platform features encouraging excessive use.
The country’s Communications and Multimedia Commission had clarified that the rules did not intend to stop children from accessing the internet or digital technology. Instead, it put more expectations on the service providers to address online dangers and ensure age-appropriate protections exist.
“These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks,” the commission had said in a statement last month.
The rules require social media platforms to introduce safety-by-design features, such as protections against manipulative design that encourages excessive use, and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.
The commission said it would give a grace period to the platforms to complete implementations of age-verification systems.
While technology companies have not yet elaborated on how they plan to comply with the new requirement, Meta’s Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia Clara Koh had expressed concerns in April that the ban could drive teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the web. She also said Meta had launched “teen accounts” for underage users which limit contact, screen time, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Australia implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. Countries such as Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, and South Korea are also taking steps to develop similar measures.
