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Malaysia's social media ban for minors sparks privacy debate Malaysia’s ban on social media for people younger than16 has been framed as a child-safety measure, but critics warn that it could prove difficult to enforce and may come at the cost of online privacy.

Malaysia: Social media ban for minors sparks privacy debate Malaysia’s ban on under-16s using social media has been framed as a child-safety measure, but critics warn it could prove difficult to enforce and may come at the cost of online privacy.

Indonesia blocks 4.8 million underage social media accounts but are kids any safer? Indonesia’s attempt to keep children aged under 16 off social media platforms deemed high risk has quickly become one of the world’s biggest tests of online safety regulation, with more than 4.8 million suspected underage accounts removed or deactivated in the first three months of enforcement. For President Prabowo Subianto’s government, the figures are an early sign that major platforms are falling in line with its policy aimed at making the digital world safer for children. Communications and...

Malaysia's social media account ban for under-16s kicks in on Jun 1, but questions remain The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had previously announced the social media ban on May 22, which sought to reduce youths’ exposure to harmful content on digital platforms.

Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16 Malaysia has begun enforcing its ban on children under 16 having social media accounts

Malaysia bans social media accounts for children under 16 but ... - AP News Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users. (AP video shot by Syawalludin Zain) Jayaradha Veerasamy, right, and Saravanan Ganasan, second left, stand with their 12 years-old daughter Saaradha Saravanan, left, and their 15 year-old son Aadhavan Saravanan at a park in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eileen Ng) A view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Siblings Saaradha Saravanan, 12, left, and Aadhavan Saravanan, 15, sit in a park in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eileen Ng) Hew Chee Weng, 11, uses a smartphone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Syawalludin Zain) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) —Malaysiaon Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining agrowing global effortto tighten safety protections. Not all families appro…

Malaysia enforces under-16 social media registration ban You can access the FAQs on the child protection code under the Online Safety Act 2025 from here. On June 1, Malaysia began enforcing new online safety rules that bar children under 16 from registering social media accounts, place legal obligations on major platforms to verify users’ ages, strengthen child protections and limit harmful content, according to a report by AP. Malaysia is implementing the measures under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) and the Child Protection Code (CPC). The measures apply to licensed social media services with at least 8 million users in the country, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. The restrictions are part of Malaysia’s broader online safety reforms . The Online Safety Act received royal assent in May 2025, and policymakers later raised the proposed minimum age for social media registration from 13 to 16 before finalising the framework, which came into force on June 1. Age Verification Linked to Government Records : Under the framework, users must undergo age verification before creating or continuing to use an account. The FAQ issued by Malaysia’s communications regulator …

Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16 Two girls looking at a mobile phone in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2021. Vincent Thian / AP Share Add NBC News to Google June 1, 2026, 6:14 AM EDT / Source : The Associated Press By The Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts , joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. The rules require social media platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts. Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said Monday that age verification for existing users will be rolled out progressively over the next six months. Users identified as under 16 will have a month to download or transfer their data, including photos and videos, before any restrictions, suspensions or other actions are applied, it said in a statement. Companies that fai…

Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger ... Malaysia has started enforcing rules to prevent children under 16 from having social media accounts KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia --KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) —Malaysiaon Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining agrowing global effortto tighten safety protections. Not all families approved, and critics raised concerns about data protection and potential surveillance. Social media platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, must implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts. Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said age verification for existing users will be rolled out over the next six months. Users identified as under 16 will have a month to download or transfer data, including photos and videos, before restrictions or other actions are applied. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million). Parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalized. The government s…

Malaysia bars under-16s from social media as new rules come into force Malaysia began enforcing age verification requirements for social media platforms on Monday, barring children under 16 from opening new accounts and requiring all existing users to confirm their identities using official government documents. The measures come into force under the Online Safety Act 2025 and are being implemented by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) through two complementary frameworks: the Child Protection Code, which obliges platform providers to...