M'sia to ban social media for children under 13 years old

Malaysia is planning to tighten online controls for teenagers under 18 and this includes a planned ban on social media access for children under 13.

This subsidiary law, one of 10, is currently being drafted under Malaysia's Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), reported The Star.

Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysia's communications minister stated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is in the midst of preparing the rules. 

Focus on protecting children

The regulations drafted aim to ensure children are exposed to age-appropriate content, protecting them from harmful online materials.

In a parliamentary reply, Fahmi wrote that these regulations would ensure social media platforms are inaccessible to under-13 users: “Under these subsidiary legislations, providers must ensure their platforms are inaccessible to users below 13 years old, while content delivered to those under 18 must be appropriate for their age.”

He added that parental control tools needed to be offered by such online service providers, in accordance with their current terms of use and community guidelines.

Hence, an online safety plan will be prepared to ensure accountability and compliance with the drafted subsidiary laws.

Fahmi was responding to a question posed by Pang Hok Liong on whether the Malaysia government has plans to prohibit under-16s from using social media platforms.

Malaysian government moving to enact law

The Malaysia government has already enforced licensing requirements for certain internet messaging and social media platforms, requiring them to acquire the Class Application Service Provider (ASP(C)) licence.

MCMC's code of practice outlines responsibilities of social media platforms, which include age-verification features and parental settings.

Fahmi noted that the Online Safety Act, gazetted on May 22, 2025 is expected to be enacted on Jan. 1, 2026: “These measures ensure providers are responsible for content regulation and algorithm management."

He also recognised that online safety is not solely the government's responsibility, stating that in January 2025, the MCMC launched the Internet Selamat Campaign (KIS).

The campaign focused on public awareness on online safety with the targeted audience being families and children.

It covered issues, such as one's digital footprint, cyberbullying and safeguarding from online falsehoods.

Fahmi's written reply came days after he told the press at a Malaysian cyber scam awareness event that the Malaysia cabinet would “prohibit those under 16 from having social media accounts”.

Similar measures in Australia

These actions come as countries move to review and ban social media for children under 16, citing mental health, wellbeing and safety.

Australia passed its law on Nov. 28, 2024 that will come into effect on Dec. 10, 2025

This will affect an estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts.

However, platforms such as Meta, have started to remove Australian children from Dec. 4, 2025, a week before the actual ban, as reported by BBC.

The world-first social media ban has companies in Australia facing fines of up to A$49.5 million (S$42.1 million). 

Australia's social media ban came after a government commissioned study showed that 96 per cent of Australian children aged 10 to 15 had used social media.

A staggering seven out of 10 of them had been exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic and violent material as well as content promoting eating disorders and suicide.

Top photo from Canva and dole777/unsplash.