Malaysia's minimum age requirement for social media usage now in force under Child Protection Code

Licensed platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube must now verify users' ages, as Malaysia introduces stricter online safety measures aimed at protecting those under 16 in the digital space.

As children and teenagers become increasingly active on social media, the question of whether Malaysia should introduce age-based restrictions for online platforms has been under discussion in recent years.

The issue was raised in Parliament in March 2025, when Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew asked Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications whether the government planned to regulate social media access based on age. At the time, Fahmi noted that while most social media platforms already impose a minimum age requirement of 13 under the United States' Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), Malaysia needed to conduct further analysis before introducing its own regulations.

A year later, Malaysia has taken a significant step towards strengthening online protections for younger users.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced on Sunday (1 June 2026) the enforcement of the Child Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) under the Online Safety Act (ONSA) 2025, introducing new obligations for licensed social media service providers operating in the country.

Age verification now mandatory for social media users

Under CPC, licensed social media service providers are required to implement child safety measures by design and strengthen age-appropriate protections for younger users.

A key requirement is the introduction of age verification measures based on a minimum age limit of 16 years.

In line with statutory obligations under ONSA, licensed social media service providers must verify users' ages using records issued by the Malaysian Government or equivalent records issued by a competent foreign authority recognised by the Malaysian Government.

From 1 June 2026, licensed social media platforms must ensure that only users aged 16 and above are allowed to register accounts and access service features that are appropriate for their age.

The requirement applies to licensed social media services including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, amid growing concerns about online safety and child development.

MCMC said the measure is intended to strengthen protections for children within Malaysia's digital environment.

Existing users to be verified over six months

For existing users, age verification will be implemented progressively by the respective social media service providers over a period of up to six months.

During this transition period, users identified as being under the age of 16 will be given one month to download or transfer their data, including photos and videos, before any restrictions, suspensions or other actions are imposed by the platform.

MCMC has urged all licensed social media service providers to fully comply with their obligations under the CPC and ONSA, including implementing effective age verification measures within the prescribed timeframe. It added that any non-compliance will be taken seriously, and it will take appropriate regulatory and enforcement action in accordance with the law.

Broader protections introduced under RMC

Alongside the CPC, the RMC introduces additional requirements for online service providers to take a more proactive approach towards user safety.

Under the code, service providers are required to conduct risk assessments, strengthen content moderation practices, provide user safety controls, and increase platform accountability.

Future of social media

Moving forward, MCMC said it will continue working closely with stakeholders, industry players and the wider community to foster a safer and more responsible online environment.

Click here to find out more information on CPC and RMC.

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