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Malaysia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect

Malaysia enforces a ban on social media accounts for children under 16. Tech firms face fines of up to $2.5 million for non-compliance.

2026-06-02T07:27:54.559Z

Malaysia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect

Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children under 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global push for tighter online safety protections.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube now must implement age verification or face penalties of up to RM10 million ($2.5 million). The government says the law targets harmful content and cyberbullying, but critics warn of data privacy risks and potential surveillance.

Not all families agree. Some parents support the restriction, while others argue it could drive teens to unregulated spaces online.

Topics Malaysia MCMC social media ban under-16 Meta TikTok