Technology

Malaysian govt bans social media for children under 16

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Staff Reporter

KUALA LAMPUR: The government of Malaysia announced that starting next year, in 2026, individuals below the age of 16 will not be allowed to set up social media accounts.

Media reports cite the Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, as saying that individuals below 16 years of age will not be allowed to open new social media accounts starting next year.

He said that an e-KYC system will be implemented on all platforms, which means age verification must be carried out when registering using identification documents such as MyKad, passport, or digital ID.

The cabinet is making this decision because the harmful content, cyberbullying, and other dangerous situations for young children on online platforms keep increasing.

According to Fahmi Fadzil, this measure comes under the Online Safety Act, which will go into effect on 1 January 2026. Some experts say that this restriction is a “necessary step” in trying to protect children from harmful online influences.

Staff Reporter

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