PETALING JAYA: Existing social media users will see age verification implemented progressively over a period of up to six months by relevant service providers.
In a statement on Monday (June 1), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said that within this transition period, existing users identified as being under the age of 16 will be given one month to download or transfer their data, including photographs and videos, before any restriction, suspension, or other action is taken by the platforms.
This directive follows an official announcement regarding the coming into force of the Child Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA).
The CPC requires licensed social media service providers to implement child-safety-by-design measures and enhance age-appropriate protections.
Under these statutory duties, platforms must ensure that only users aged 16 and above are permitted to register new accounts and access age-appropriate features, with ages verified against government-issued records or recognised international equivalents.
MCMC said that the new age verification mandate applies to major licensed social media services, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
To complement these rules, the RMC introduces proactive safeguards requiring platforms to conduct risk assessments, enhance content moderation, and implement stronger user safety controls.
MCMC has warned that any failure to comply with these statutory obligations will be viewed seriously and will result in regulatory and enforcement action in accordance with the law.
