Malaysia has begun enforcing a ban on social media for users under the age of 16.
Since June 1, social media platforms with at least eight million users including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are required to ensure that only users aged 16 and above can register accounts and access features. Gaming platforms such as Roblox are also covered in the ban.
"Age verification must be conducted against government-issued records or equivalent records issued by a competent authority in another jurisdiction recognised by the Government of Malaysia," the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said in a statement.
The commission warned that non-compliance would be "viewed seriously and may result in regulatory and enforcement action in accordance with the law."
Existing users under 16 will be given a month to download or transfer their data before these restrictions kick in.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil first signalled the government's intent to block users under 16 in November 2025. Non-compliant platforms in Malaysia may face fines of up to US$2.5 million (RM10 million) under the Online Safety Act, gazetted in May 2025.
The ban follows a sharp rise in online harm targeting children in Malaysia. The country has a population of more than 35 million people, with 98% having access to the internet. Facebook alone had over 31 million users in the country, while Instagram has amassed nearly 17 million users, per social media aggregator Napoleon Cat.
The MCMC has identified cyberbullying, online harassment, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as key threats to young users. Malaysia recorded 12,656 reports of CSAM in the first half of 2025 alone, according to data from the Internet Watch Foundation.
Meanwhile, some 100,000 Malaysian children aged 12 to 17 experience online sexual exploitation or abuse every year, according to a 2022 report by ECPAT, INTERPOL, and UNICEF Innocenti.
Malaysia's enforcement follows a broader move to restrict children's access to social media. In March, Indonesia set a precedent in Southeast Asia when it enforced restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16. Platforms classified as 'high risk,' including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and gaming platform Roblox, were required to prevent access to users under 16 by removing or deactivating their accounts.
Australia became the first country to fully enforce a social media ban for under-16s in December 2025. Failure to comply with regulations may result in social platforms receiving fines of up to US$33 million (A$50 million).
