Malaysia began enforcing new online safety rules on June 1 that prohibit children under 16 from registering social media accounts. The measures, implemented under the Online Safety Act 2025 and the Child Protection Code, apply to licensed platforms with at least 8 million users in the country, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, according to medianama.com.
The Online Safety Act received royal assent in May 2025, with policymakers raising the minimum age for social media registration from 13 to 16 before finalizing the framework. Users must now verify their age using government-issued documents such as MyKad or passports. Platforms are required to implement age verification methods that meet standards for accuracy, security, and privacy, while the government allows flexibility in the technology used for verification.
These new rules form part of Malaysia's broader online safety reforms aimed at strengthening child protections and limiting harmful content on social media. The regulations impose legal obligations on major platforms to verify users’ ages and enhance safeguards for minors. The approach aligns with global trends where governments are increasing oversight of digital platforms to protect younger users from online risks.
The Online Safety Act 2025 and Child Protection Code officially came into force on June 1, marking a significant regulatory milestone for digital safety in Malaysia. The communications regulator has issued FAQs detailing the requirements, emphasizing compliance by platforms with at least 8 million users in the country.