PUTRAJAYA is proposing that MyDigital ID be adopted as an age-verification tool to prevent children under 16 from creating social media accounts, as the government moves to regulate minors’ access to online platforms.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Dewan Rakyat today that discussions with platform providers are ongoing.
“I think the mechanism to implement this initiative will involve the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the government, including the Communications Ministry, continuing discussions with platform providers,” she said.
Teo added that the administration’s current proposal “is to use MyDigital ID as one of the tools to verify the age of social media users,” with further engagement planned to ensure that “users under the age of 16 do not have social media accounts.”
Her remarks came in response to a question from Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong on how the government intends to enforce age restrictions on social media access.
Teo noted that Malaysia is not alone in considering such measures, pointing out that Australia is preparing to introduce similar legislation in December, albeit using a different method of verifying users’ ages.
The proposed framework marks a significant step in Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen online safety for minors, as policymakers and regulators work with technology companies to establish enforceable age-verification systems that balance digital access with child protection. - November 24, 2025
