News & Reviews:   social media

Effective from 1 June 2026, the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has announced the implementation and enforcement of the Child Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Reduction Code (RMC), thereby banning children under 16 from using social media. So, what should you know about it?

In case you missed the news over the weekend, Malaysia is set to introduce stricter online safety measures beginning 1 June, requiring social media users to verify their age using official government-issued documents. The move comes under new regulations introduced through the Online Safety Act 2025 by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Recently, Malaysian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have sent an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to protest against the proposed ban on social media for individuals under 16 years of age and the mandatory use of e-KYC for all users in Malaysia. That said, what should you know about it?

As we reported before, Malaysia is preparing to introduce stricter controls on social media access for younger users, with new regulations targeting those under the age of 16. Now, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the measures are expected to be implemented by June or July 2026, pending final review and industry feedback. It's a month earlier than the initial projection.

According to an Omdia report via The Hollywood Reporter, the four major social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, control over 90% of social media advertising revenue. Of this pie, Meta takes 70% of it, making them the world's largest social media advertising platform.

Malaysia is planning to introduce a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media use, with enforcement expected in the second half of 2026. The proposal highlights a growing push to improve online safety, especially for younger users.

The Indonesian government has summoned Google and Meta for allegedly failing to comply with a social media ban on under-16s that went into effect last weekend. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said official notices had been sent to both companies.

It has been a few weeks since the court battle between a young woman and tech giants started. Today, a jury in Los Angeles has delivered a major legal blow to Meta and Google, awarding $6 million (over ~RM23.5 million) in damages to the young woman who sued over childhood social media addiction.

The latest World Happiness Report 2026 has raised fresh concerns about the impact of social media on young people, suggesting that heavy usage is linked to declining happiness among teenagers. The report, published by researchers including the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, highlights a growing drop in life satisfaction among youth, particularly in developed countries.

Like Malaysia, Indonesia has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, as part of a broader effort to address growing concerns about online safety. The policy was confirmed by Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid, who said the regulation aims to protect young users from harmful digital environments.