Malaysia’s Online Safety Act 2025 introduces a mandatory age verification system requiring social media users to upload official government-issued documents starting June 1, 2026 [1, 2].
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also rolled out the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) to prevent anyone under 16 from opening social media accounts [1, 2]. The minimum age to own social media accounts is set at 16 [1, 2].
Siraj Jalil, president of the Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA), said, “We support the age verification mechanism because social media platforms have long imposed age guidelines, but there has never been an effective way to prevent falsification of age” [1]. He highlighted that without such verification, underage users could easily bypass restrictions.
Jalil also stressed the importance of digital education alongside verification measures. “That educational mechanism is important so they will not experience culture shock and can use digital platforms safely,” he said, emphasizing the need for early education to prepare young users for responsible social media engagement once they reach 16 [1, 2].
Parental involvement is a key component. Jalil warned, “Parental readiness is very important. If even basic safety practices are not applied, how can they protect their children online?” He called for improved government communication channels to support parents’ understanding of cybersecurity and child protection online [1, 2].
The government aims for a phased approach with dialogues across society to explain the new policies clearly. This is meant to avoid confusion and build trust as the age verification system and codes take effect at the start of June 2026 [1, 2].
