SHAH ALAM, May 6 — The government will not impose a blanket ban on online gaming platforms as it moves to enforce social media restrictions for those under 16 next month, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, as reported by Scoop.
She said the initial phase will focus on licensed social media platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia, adding that the government doesn’t “want to be overly ambitious”.
The restrictions, due to be enforced next month, fall under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) that took effect on January 1.
Under the current plan, platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook are required to implement age verification measures, while gaming ecosystems with social interaction features remain outside its scope.
However, Teo said gaming platforms may be regulated in the future if risks become more evident.
“We will continue to monitor the situation with all these gaming platforms. If we feel there is a need, we can amend our definition of licensees at any time and include gaming platforms.”
With gaming platforms currently excluded from government restrictions, Teo said parents play a crucial role in keeping their children safe online, and that parental control tools are available and relatively easy to set up.
“I don’t think the whole process would take more than 30 minutes, but … it depends on whether parents think this is important to ensure their child’s safety.
“You need to let them know, for example, not to share personal information, not to make friends or talk to strangers online,” she added.
She also said many online risks stem from user behaviour rather than the platforms themselves, adding that ONSA should be viewed as a basic safeguard rather than a complete solution.
“I think laws and regulations are there, but compliance and the readiness of people to (adhere to the law) are equally important. We cannot subcontract it to the government or to schools or teachers. As responsible parents, this is our duty,” Teo cautioned.
