This 2025 photo shows a 14-year-old boy posing at his home in Australia as he looks at social media on his mobile phone. AFP-Yonhap
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from owning social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users.
The rules require social media platforms to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts. They apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million). But parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalized.
The government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use.
