tags - Sinar Daily

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

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Photo: Bernama

TikTok warned the "blunt" age ban could have a raft of unintended consequences. - AFP file photo

AMK chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim - Photo by Bernama