tags - Sinar Daily

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil after officiating the launch of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2026 (DBS 2026) Grand Opening today. - Photo by Bernama

Records from the Registrar of Youth Societies (ROY) showed that membership prior to the enforcement of the amended age limit stood at 991,729. - Bernama file photo for illustration purpose only

Chang Lih Kang when interviewed at the Epicentre MRANTI building. (SINAR PHOTO)

The government is reportedly targeting all social media platforms to implement digital user identity verification (eKYC) by the end of the second quarter of 2026 to enforce the minimum age requirement for account registration. - Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily

Photo for illustration purposes only. - AFP FILE PIX

The year 2026 is not just about new resolutions, but also requires the people be more aware and prepared to face various good changes from the cost of living, digital security to law enforcement that will have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people. Photo for illustrative purposes only. - Photo: CANVA

The government’s recent proposal to set a minimum age of 16 for social media use has drawn widespread public attention, prompting debate from multiple angles - responsibility, safety, present realities and the future of the younger generation.

Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil

Critics of age-based bans warn that they may be technically challenging to enforce, could push teenagers toward virtual private networks (VPNs) or less-regulated platforms, and raise new privacy concerns due to the need to collect and store sensitive identity data. - Photo illustrated via Canva

Based on the United Nations Children’s Fund Our Lives Online report in 2020, 91 per cent of Malaysian children aged 13 to 17 surf the Internet every day with 70 per cent of them having been exposed to disturbing content. Photo illustrated via Canva