Malaysia’s bid to bar under-16s from social media using ID checks stokes privacy fears

With mandatory ID verification set for 2026, Malaysia debates: should parents or the state decide how children access the internet?

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A young boy looks at a mobile phone in Malaysia’s Johor state. The push to bar children from social media follows a string of troubling incidents including viral bullying videos. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:02pm, 24 Nov 2025Updated: 3:59pm, 24 Nov 2025

Malaysia’s plan to bar children aged 16 and under from having social media accounts from next year has sparked a public backlash, as experts warn that enforcement gaps, privacy risks and vague guidelines could blunt the policy’s impact.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday that social media platforms would be required to implement electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) identity checks in 2026 under the Online Safety Act, which comes into force on January 1.

Users will have to verify their age using government-issued identity documents such as the MyKad identity card, passports or the national digital ID in a move away from the self-declared age checks of today.

“We expect all platform providers to be ready to implement eKYC by next year,” Fahmi was quoted as saying by local daily The Star, adding that the goal was to ensure minors “are prohibited from having social media accounts” and to strengthen safeguards against harmful content and online scams.

A child plays at a public pool in front of Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

The push follows a string of troubling incidents including viral bullying videos, secondary school students sharing explicit clips and scam attempts that targeted teenagers.

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