- Malaysia has implemented a new regulation effective June 1, 2026, under which children under the age of 16 will not be permitted to hold social media accounts.
- This measure has been taken with the objective of bolstering children's online safety and mitigating the growing risks associated with digital platforms.
- Under the new rule, major social media companies will be required to verify users' age before allowing them to create an account.
- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has clarified that users under the age of 16 will be unable to register new accounts on social media platforms that fall within the scope of this regulation.
- For age verification purposes, platforms must utilize government-issued identification documents, such as a national identity card or a passport.
- The aim is to ensure that minors cannot create social media accounts by providing false information.
- This regulation will apply to social media platforms that have at least 8 million users in Malaysia.
- This category includes popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
- If a company fails to comply with the prescribed regulations, it may face a fine of up to 10 million Malaysian Ringgit.
- This amount is equivalent to approximately 2.5 million US dollars. The government believes that imposing strict financial penalties will ensure effective compliance with the regulations by these companies.
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