Kuala lumpur:<Text>

The implementation of a minimum age limit of 16 for social media use, aimed at protecting children and adolescents from exploitation and exposure to inappropriate online content, is expected to be enforced as early as July. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the initiative is currently in the regulatory sandbox phase, allowing the government to test and refine the most effective implementation methods before full enforcement.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the measure is being carried out in line with the Online Safety Act (OnSA), with discussions already underway with social media platform providers to determine the most suitable approach. Teo stated that discussions with platform providers have begun under OnSA, and the focus is on identifying the safest way to conduct age verification through a regulatory sandbox stage. Although still in the planning and discussion phase, the government aims for implementation in the second half of the year, as previously announced by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

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. When questioned about cyberbullying involving national badminton player Toh Ee Wei, Teo mentioned that she had not yet received confirmation from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on whether any complaints had been lodged regarding the matter.

Teo also commented on today's programme, noting that the MADANI Government, through the Ministry of Education, has allocated RM800 million for Early Schooling Assistance (BAP) this year, benefiting approximately 5.2 million students from Year One to Form Six nationwide. As the Kulai Member of Parliament, she reported that 586,153 students received assistance, involving a total allocation of RM87.9 million in Johor. Specifically, for the Kulai district, 58,264 students benefited, with an allocation of RM8.7 million.