Communications minister: New social media age limit could start by June

 

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government will give social media platforms sufficient time to implement clean-up measures, including ensuring that no more children under 16 register new accounts or maintain existing accounts on their respective platforms. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — The government will strive to restrict the opening of new social media accounts for children under the age of 16, with its implementation expected to be as early as the middle of this year, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the government will give social media platforms sufficient time to implement clean-up measures, including ensuring that no more children under 16 register new accounts or maintain existing accounts on their respective platforms.

"We expect it (implementing the 16-year-old age limit for social media use) at the end of June, if not earlier than that. (Its implementation) is not impossible, and if everything goes smoothly, we may even start earlier,” he said.

He said this after officiating at the launch of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2026 (DBS 2026) Grand Opening here today.

Previously, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it was looking into various methods to verify the ages of internet users before the minimum age limit of 16 for social media use takes effect in the second half of this year.

According to the MCMC, it has held engagement sessions with social media service providers, such as Meta, Google and TikTok, to determine the most suitable method for verifying ages.

Touching on the symposium, Fahmi said that developments in artificial intelligence (AI) will not be able to fully replace the work of journalists or news readers.

"Much of the technology showcased gives an idea of what can be done. But, in terms of analysis, AI cannot fully replace journalists or new readers.

"But we expect journalists and news readers will be replaced by those who are proficient in using AI,” he said.

As such, he said the government has introduced the RM30 million Media Innovation Fund to assist media companies and related organisations to leverage AI technology in their operations.

He hopes the fund can be used to strengthen the use of technology without affecting jobs, while also creating opportunities for new revenue models in the media industry. — Bernama