MALAYSIA ENFORCES UNDER-16 SOCIAL MEDIA BAN

Social media companies operating in Malaysia must deploy age verification systems to block users below 16 years old. The ban applies to major platforms and represents one of the strictest age-gating policies globally. The government cited child safety concerns, including exposure to harmful content and online exploitation risks. Platforms will face penalties for non-compliance, though specific enforcement mechanisms remain unclear. Age verification methods typically include government ID checks, credit card verification, or biometric identification. Implementation costs and privacy implications for users remain open questions. The policy aligns with similar efforts in other countries, though most have set lower age thresholds or relied on parental consent models rather than outright bans. Tech companies have not publicly detailed their compliance strategies for the Malaysian market.