Malaysia to Ban Under-16s from Social Media Starting 2026
Kuala Lumpur, 25 November 2025 (BNN Web Staff) – Malaysia has announced a strict new rule: from 2026, children under the age of 16 will be completely barred from creating or using social media accounts.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed on Sunday that the Cabinet has approved the ban as part of a major push to protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, scams, grooming, and sexual exploitation.
“We are studying how Australia and other countries are enforcing age limits, and we expect all social media platforms to comply by next year,” Fahmi told reporters. “No one under 16 should be allowed to open an account.”
The minister added that the government is exploring reliable age-verification methods, including electronic checks using national ID cards (MyKad) or passports.
Following Australia’s Lead
Malaysia’s move comes exactly one year after Australia became the first country in the world to ban under-16s from social media (with the law taking effect in late 2025). Malaysian lawmakers in October overwhelmingly backed the same age threshold and called for strong verification systems during account registration.
Broader Crackdown on Big Tech
Since January 2025, Malaysia has required all social media and messaging platforms with at least 8 million local users to obtain an official operating licence. The new under-16 ban will be enforced under the same regulatory framework, giving authorities greater power to penalise non-compliant companies.
A Safer Internet for Families
Minister Fahmi emphasised the bigger goal: “If government, regulators, and parents all play their part, we can ensure the internet in Malaysia is not only fast, widespread, and affordable — but most importantly, safe, especially for children and families.”
The announcement has sparked intense debate, with child-rights advocates welcoming the protection while free-speech groups and some parents worry about enforcement challenges and the risk of pushing teens toward unregulated corners of the internet.
Malaysia now joins a growing list of countries — including Australia, France, and several U.S. states — taking aggressive steps to shield minors from the harms of unchecked social media use.
