KUALA LUMPUR, December 9 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that Malaysia will regulate social media platforms through licensing starting January 1, 2025, rather than introducing laws to limit user age.
Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp will be required to enforce their existing age restrictions, such as WhatsApp’s minimum user age of 16. “Our focus is ensuring platforms strictly implement age verification while understanding why children continue to access these services despite the rules,” Fahmi said during a press conference at the Lembah Pantai Peduli Ummah Tour programme.
Addressing other concerns, Fahmi noted that recent floods had temporarily disrupted several telecommunications towers, though most services have been restored. The government is preparing for a potential second wave of flooding, anticipated between December 8 and December 11, and will continue to monitor the resilience of the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.
