Malaysia began enforcing a new rule on 1 June 2026 that prohibits children under the age of 16 from owning social media accounts

Malaysia began enforcing a new rule on 1 June 2026 that prohibits children under the age of 16 from owning social media accounts

¨     Malaysia began enforcing a new rule on 1 June 2026 that prohibits children under the age of 16 from owning social media accounts.

¨     The regulation applies to major social media platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia.

¨     Platforms are required to implement age-verification systems before allowing users to create accounts.

¨     The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated that individuals below 16 years of age cannot register on covered platforms.

¨     Age verification is expected to be conducted using government-issued documents, such as identity cards or passports.

¨     The rule covers major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

¨     These platforms meet the threshold of having at least 8 million users in Malaysia.

¨     Companies that fail to comply with the regulation may face penalties of up to 10 million Malaysian ringgit (approximately US$2.5 million).

¨     The restriction is part of Malaysia’s Online Safety Act 2025.

¨     The law came into force on 1 January 2026.

¨     It establishes a legal framework for online safety, platform accountability, compliance requirements, and user protection measures.

¨     The measure aims to strengthen online safety for minors and increase the responsibility of social media platforms operating in Malaysia.