KUALA LUMPUR – Children under 16 should not control their own social media accounts, but parents may manage accounts on their behalf to monitor online interactions, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.
He said the key concern is ensuring that minors are protected from online safety risks, including cyber predators who may attempt to contact them through social media platforms.
“The key issue is who controls the account. We do not want children controlling the accounts themselves,” he told reporters after attending the Sejahtera Madani Welfare Programme: Sumbangan Ihsan Kasih Ramadan 2026 here last night, reported Bernama.
“If the account is opened by parents, at least they will know if unknown individuals try to contact their children.”
Fahmi said the government is currently working with social media platforms through a regulatory sandbox to introduce a minimum age limit of 16 for new account registrations.
Malaysia’s approach differs from Australia’s Age Assurance model, he said, noting that Putrajaya plans to leverage legislation linked to the MyKad system as an additional layer for identity and age verification.
Children can still watch online content, such as on YouTube, but should not operate personal accounts that allow strangers to contact them directly, he added.
Fahmi also urged parents to remain attentive to their children’s digital activities and avoid leaving them unsupervised with devices for long periods.
“Devices are not babysitters. Parents also have responsibilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the programme also saw RM500 in aid presented to 150 asnaf recipients registered under the eKasih system in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency.
Held in collaboration with the Federal Territories State Development Office (ICU JPM) and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, the initiative is part of the Madani government’s effort to ensure welfare support reaches vulnerable communities. – March 5, 2026