THE Government will enforce mandatory age verification for social media users as part of a new regulatory framework designed to strengthen the protection of children in the digital space, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the initiative is intended to reduce exposure of minors to harmful online content, exploitation risks and excessive use of digital platforms, in line with emerging international regulatory approaches.
He said children were particularly vulnerable in the online environment due to their ongoing cognitive, emotional and social development, compounded by algorithm-driven content distribution and increased digital engagement.
“Children are among those more exposed to online risks as they are still in a stage of cognitive, emotional and social development. Increased access to digital content, interactions and algorithm-driven systems has created various risks, including exposure to harmful content, online exploitation and excessive use of platforms.
“Accordingly, more comprehensive age-appropriate online protection is essential to ensure that the safety, well-being and development of children continue to be safeguarded in the digital environment,” he said in a statement relased by the miistry roday.
Fahmi said countries such as Australia, Brazil and Indonesia had already adopted age verification and age-appropriate design measures, reflecting a growing global shift towards stricter child online protection standards.
In Malaysia, the framework is being implemented through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which has introduced the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code (RMC), effective June 1, 2026 under the Online Safety Act 2025.
The codes impose binding obligations on licensed Application Service Providers (ASP) and Content Application Service Providers (CASP), including social media platforms operating in the country.
Under the CPC, providers must implement age verification systems rather than full identity verification, with the objective of ensuring compliance with minimum age thresholds for account registration.
Individuals aged 16 and above will be permitted to register and maintain social media accounts, while those below 16 will be barred from creating or holding accounts until they reach the required age.
The government stressed that the measure is not a permanent restriction on social media use among children, but a delay mechanism intended to ensure users reach a more appropriate level of maturity before independent access.
This approach, branded the “Await 16” (“Tunggu 16”) initiative, is intended to reduce exposure of children and families to online harms.
Age verification must be based on official government-issued documentation such as MyKad, passports, birth certificates or other recognised identification documents, with allowances for equivalent foreign documents to ensure equitable access to safeguards.
The CPC further requires service providers to comply with data protection principles, including data minimisation and purpose limitation, meaning only necessary information may be collected and must be deleted once verification purposes have been fulfilled.
The minister said no specific technology is mandated, provided platforms are able to effectively prevent underage account creation while maintaining user privacy protections.
To prevent misuse, additional safeguards have been introduced, including mandatory reliance on official records rather than self-declaration, safety-by-design requirements, compliance with data protection laws, and enforcement powers including financial penalties for non-compliant providers.
Overall, the government said the framework is designed to deliver a secure, practical and accountable age verification system that balances child protection objectives with privacy rights and responsible data governance in the digital ecosystem. - June 24, 2026
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