Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government, through the Ministry of Communications and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is continuing efforts to implement electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification as part of stricter controls on social media usage among users under the age of 16.
He said the main objective of the initiative is to prevent children under 16 from independently holding social media accounts.
Fahmi explained that in cases where accounts are created and supervised by parents, children may still be allowed to use them to view or upload content. However, he stressed that the key requirement is ensuring effective parental supervision and control.
He added that the success of the policy will ultimately depend on parents playing an active role in monitoring their children’s online activities.
The minister also said the move is aimed at reducing the risk of children interacting with strangers or unknown adults on social media platforms.
Citing a recent case in Sabah involving a man sentenced to imprisonment and caning for an offence involving a 15-year-old girl, he said investigations showed that initial contact between them allegedly began on TikTok, despite existing platform restrictions for underage users.
Fahmi said the case highlights the limitations of relying solely on platform rules to protect children from online threats, including sexual predators.
He reiterated that the government’s priority remains safeguarding children’s welfare and strengthening the protection of families in the digital environment.
