Indonesia and Malaysia have introduced restrictions on social media for minors coming into effect this quarter, with Malaysia banning access for users under 16 and Indonesia implementing a tiered system for users under 18. These restrictions reflect a broader effort by governments to implement age-based online safety measures amid rising concerns over online safety and mental health impacts of social media on youth.
Effective last month, Malaysia has prohibited all minors under 16 from accessing social media in line with the 2025 Online Safety Act. Platforms with over 8 million users must obtain licenses and implement safety measures outlined in the Act, including limiting adult-child interactions, controlling personalized recommendations for children, and limiting features that increase a child's use of said service. Platforms are also expected to implement electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification via passports or Digital IDs. Implementation details are being developed through a regulatory sandbox and will be finalized in mid-2026.
Effective March 1, Indonesia's Child Protection in Digital Space Regulation (PP Tunas) introduces a tiered, risk-based system that requires parental approval based on platform risk. Children under 13 may access only low-risk platforms, children aged 13-15 may access medium-risk platforms, and children aged 16-17 may access high-risk platforms, including public social media. The government will publish classifications of high- and low-risk platforms to guide implementation. Furthermore, electronic system providers are prohibited from profiling or analyzing children's data with penalties for non-compliance.
