Children below the age of 16 are not permitted to open their own social media accounts, though accounts managed by parents on their behalf are allowed, said Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications.
The move aims to protect minors from online security risks, including potential predators who may contact children through various social media platforms.
“The key issue is who controls the account… we do not want children managing it themselves. If parents create the account, at least they can monitor if strangers try to interact with their child,” he said at a press conference during the Program Sejahtera MADANI Kebajikan: Sumbangan Ihsan Kasih Ramadan 2026.
Regulatory Sandbox And Age Verification
Fahmi added that the government is implementing a regulatory sandbox in collaboration with social media platforms to enforce a minimum age of 16 for new account registrations.
Unlike Australia’s Model Age Assurance, Malaysia’s approach leverages specific legislation and the MyKad system to verify the identity and age of users, providing an added layer of security.
“Children are still allowed to watch content on platforms like YouTube… they just cannot open accounts themselves,” he clarified.
Parental Responsibility Emphasised
The minister also stressed the importance of parental supervision over children’s digital activities, warning against leaving them on devices for extended periods without guidance.
“Devices are not babysitters. Parents have responsibilities too,” he said.
Community Welfare Efforts
The program, organised in collaboration with ICU JPM Wilayah Persekutuan and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, included the distribution of RM500 to 150 registered asnaf beneficiaries under the eKasih system in the Lembah Pantai constituency.
Fahmi noted that the initiative aligns with the MADANI government’s vision under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which emphasises balanced economic growth and public welfare to ensure no group is left behind in Malaysia’s development.
