KUALA LUMPUR — The government will prohibit children aged 16 and below from having their own social media accounts from next year.
According to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, the decision was made by the Cabinet to protect children from online harm.
“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to prohibit those under 16 from creating accounts,” the New Straits Times quoted Fahmi telling reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the Cyber Scam Awareness Seminar for the Indian Community, here, today.
Fahmi said the government is reviewing the implementation of a general age limit, similar to measures adopted in Australia and several other countries.
“Different countries may take different approaches, but we will study which method is most suitable to ensure that those under 16 are prevented from having social media accounts.”
Among the mechanisms being considered is requiring social media platforms to implement eKYC verification involving government-issued documents such as MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID, said Fahmi.
He urged parents to play their respective roles to facilitate the enforcement, to make the country’s internet sphere a safe place, especially for children and families.
Australia recently announced that it would impose a ban on social media use by under-16s from December 10. — November 23, 2025