Malaysia Extends Deadline for Under-16 Social Media Ban

The Government of Malaysia is struggling to enforce a social media ban for children under 16 that took effect on June 1. The regulation targets platforms with more than 8 million Malaysian users, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The ban was prompted by concerns over children's mental health and a rise in school-related violence, including a stabbing in Banting that authorities linked to social media content.

To ensure compliance, the Ministry of Communications requested that companies verify user ages using government-issued identity cards. However, social media firms have resisted this requirement, citing privacy and cybersecurity risks associated with storing sensitive government data. Many children have continued to access the platforms by providing fake ages.

In response to the lack of compliance, the Ministry of Communications has demanded explanations from the platforms and extended the implementation deadline to January 2027. Companies that fail to adhere to the mandate face fines of up to 10 million ringgit, approximately $2.4 million. While Google stated it is committed to working with authorities, Meta argued that such bans could be counterproductive.