ARTICLE 19, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Sinar Project stress that the blanket social media ban for under-16s, which comes into force in Malaysia on 1 June 2026, is being rushed through without a thorough process and a careful, in-depth, evidence-based assessment. The move, which includes age verification confirmed through government-issued documents, is misguided and disproportionate, and it will undermine the privacy and freedom of expression of all social media users, both adults and children. We urge the government to pause, withdraw the blanket ban on social media for children under 16, withdraw the proposed age-verification methods, and ensure that all reforms undergo full parliamentary scrutiny and meaningful and inclusive public consultation.
The ban is being implemented hastily, despite the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) only releasing the results of their public consultation report at the end of April. The report indicated that the majority of stakeholders who participated in the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) implementation consultation favoured risk-based age-assurance measures rather than a single age-verification model. The MCMC report further indicated that stakeholders recommended a framework in which the level of age assurance aligns with the risk associated with specific services, rather than relying solely on strict identity checks. The stakeholders also advocated a multi-layered approach that combines multiple signals and interventions, balancing child protection with privacy safeguards. The MCMC’s hasty decision to proceed with the ban and age verification confirmed through government-issued documents appears to have disregarded the outcomes of the public consultations and favoured disproportionate measures. This illustrates a problematic reality: the government’s public consultations are often merely tokenistic rather than meaningful.
We understand that public concerns about children’s safety online are at a peak, and there is no denying that social media companies have increasingly posed challenges to the wellbeing of children – and indeed all social media users – in recent years. However, we remain concerned about the key issues we raised together with over 80 civil society organisations from Malaysia, the region, and internationally, as well as in our submission to the MCMC.
- Implementing a blanket ban on social media in Malaysia using age verification through government-issued documents is disproportionate, not rights-respecting, and endangers sensitive personal data. The ban will increase and normalise surveillance. At the same time, a user uploading their biometric data and government-issued documents on the platform cannot be certain that it will never be further shared or even sold, thereby creating a potentially lasting digital footprint and making them vulnerable to the very harm the government is aiming to curb. The move will also lead to the digital exclusion of at-risk communities that do not have proper identification. Age assurance should focus on providing safe online experiences for children while respecting privacy and minimising data collection. In March 2026, over 400 experts from around the world called for a moratorium on age-assurance technologies until their effectiveness is proven. Their message is clear: while protecting minors is crucial, blanket identity checks could be harmful and counterproductive. Malaysia should heed this warning and avoid untested systems that infringe on users’ rights. As pointed out in General Comment No. 25 to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), ‘age assurance systems should be consistent with data protection and safeguarding requirements’.
- As we have stated many times, the ONSA lacks both clarity and strong safeguards for fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. We believe that any legislation regulating social media companies should instead prioritise transparency, human rights, independent oversight, and accountability. At the same time, we note that the ONSA does not provide any legal basis for a blanket ban on users under 16. On the contrary, Section 18 of the ONSA presumes children’s access to digital platforms and focuses on making those environments safer. Imposing a ban via subsidiary legislation that appears to contradict the Parent Act raises serious concerns of executive overreach.
- The ban undermines children’s human rights and makes it harder to protect them. Like adults, they have the right to free expression and privacy under international human rights law. In addition, under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children are guaranteed protections tailored to their needs. They include rights to safety, privacy, protection from exploitation, and freedoms of expression in the digital world. A blanket ban violates those rights. More specifically:. (a) It limits children’s rights to learn and engage with society, increasing inequality and social isolation. (b) It may push children to riskier online spaces. (c) It erodes privacy through age checks that can be misused to collect their data. (d) It does not address the harmful practices of tech companies or create safer online experiences. (e) Lastly, the ban – if effective in preventing children’s access to social media in the first place – will create a dangerous ‘cliff-edge’ effect, exposing children to high-risk environments at age 16 without adequate preparation and preventing them from learning to handle online challenges.
- Despite the public consultations spanning multiple sessions, the consultations do not share any details on the workplan and timeline of the age verification methods. The exact social media apps identified as harmful, the relevant justifications for their inclusion, the results of sandboxing to assess the feasibility, and the third-party companies involved were not made clear.
It should be noted that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its recent Concluding Observations on Malaysia (February 2026), expressed concern that the government’s steps to ensure inclusive digital access for children remain inadequate. The Committee raised that ‘there is a lack of digital literacy and a significant digital divide; age-based prohibition and control over access to social media, as limiting children’s access to age-appropriate information and online child-friendly platforms; and limited guarantee of privacy protection.’ The Committee also recommended that Malaysia ‘adopt a child rights-based approach to the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2025’.
We reiterate that the proposed blanket social media ban does not address the root issues of social media companies’ business models and services. Children should not be prohibited from accessing the digital world; they should be able to do so safely and in ways that protect their rights. It is the platforms and their business models that exploit children, and these should be regulated. Platforms should put safety first by prioritising design that prevents misuse and strengthening safety infrastructure. Therefore, we urge the government:
- To withdraw the blanket ban on social media for children under 16, withdraw the proposed age-verification methods, and ensure that all reforms undergo full parliamentary scrutiny and meaningful and inclusive public consultation.
- To introduce comprehensive and robust platform regulation aligned with constitutional and international human rights standards, including the Federal Constitution (Article 8 and 10), Child Act 2001 (Preamble), and Malaysia’s commitments under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
- To mandate Human Rights Due Diligence and Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) for digital service providers to identify and mitigate any risks associated with their services, including specifically on children’s rights, and consider which regulatory mechanisms can be used to enforce action based on identified risks.
- To adopt a whole-of-society approach that not only examines social media in isolation but also proactively engages with civil society, children, children with disabilities, parents, women’s rights groups, children’s rights groups, disability rights groups, health services, educational settings, and other relevant stakeholders. By collaborating with these groups, the government can gain valuable insights, develop comprehensive strategies, and implement impactful measures to safeguard children and individuals from online harm. We, as civil society organisations, have worked on these issues for many years. We stand ready to engage in meaningful collaboration with the government, provided sufficient resources are available.
Children need protection from the known harms associated with early and excessive social media use. However, the move to implement bans is happening too quickly, without sufficient evidence or consultation. Instead of focusing on the responsibilities of tech companies, the burden falls on children and families. States should consider exploring alternatives, beginning by listening to the voices of children, young people, and human rights organisations.