Malaysia begins enforcing under-16 social media restrictions under Online Safety Act

Malaysia has started enforcing new online safety rules that bar children under 16 from registering social media accounts on major platforms, as the government tightens protection against harmful content, scams, cyberbullying and illegal gambling promotion.

Malaysia has begun enforcing new social media restrictions under the Online Safety Act 2025, requiring major platforms to verify user age and prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The rules took effect on June 1, 2026, and apply to large social media providers operating in Malaysia, including platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission says the measure is designed to protect under-16s from online harms while giving parents more tools to guide responsible digital engagement. The regulator published the Child Protection Code and the Risk Mitigation Code in May under the Online Safety Act, following consultations with industry players, civil society groups and other stakeholders.

The new framework requires platforms to introduce age-verification systems for new account registration. Existing users will also be reviewed over the coming months, with age verification expected to be rolled out over a six-month period. Users identified as under 16 will reportedly be given a one-month window to download or transfer their data before restrictions are applied.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said platforms operating in Malaysia must respect and comply with local laws, especially those related to online safety and child protection. His comments come after months of growing pressure on major platforms over scams, harmful content and illegal gambling-related advertising, including repeated government warnings to Meta and Facebook.

The Online Safety Act is not limited to age restrictions. It creates duties for licensed online service providers to reduce users’ exposure to harmful content, assess risks on their platforms and implement mitigation measures. MCMC says the codes cover issues including child sexual abuse material, scams, cyberbullying, account safeguards, parental controls and platform accountability.

For the gambling sector, the policy is significant because social media has become one of the main channels for illegal betting promotion, scam betting links and gambling-style content aimed at younger users. By tightening age checks and forcing platforms to manage harmful-content risks more proactively, Malaysia is trying to reduce minors’ exposure not only to general online harms, but also to gambling-related advertising and fraudulent betting schemes.

Non-compliant companies may face serious penalties. AP reported that platforms failing to follow the rules could be fined up to RM10 million, while parents will not be penalised under the new framework. The approach places responsibility primarily on platforms rather than families.

Malaysia’s move places it among a growing group of countries using age-based controls to reshape children’s access to social media. The main test will be implementation: platforms must verify age without creating excessive privacy risks, while regulators will need to ensure that underage users are not simply pushed toward less regulated online spaces. For Malaysia, the new rules mark a major step toward treating child online safety, harmful content and gambling exposure as connected regulatory problems.