Kuala lumpur: The government is contemplating the implementation of MyDigital ID as a method to verify the age of social media account holders, according to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. This initiative aims to ensure that social media users are not below the age of 16, aligning with governmental efforts to protect children within the digital environment.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Teo stated that the government plans to employ MyDigital ID as a tool for age verification on social media platforms. Discussions with platform providers are anticipated to further this initiative. The announcement was made during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), who inquired about the enforcement of the under-16 ban and the challenges posed by international platforms.

Teo highlighted that the imposition of a minimum age requirement for social media is a practice already adopted by several countries, including Australia.

In another update, Teo reported that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has received 812 complaints regarding the spread of false content or fake news nationwide from January 1 to November 20, as documented via the Consumer Redress Portal (CRP).

The complaints addressed the dissemination of false information concerning government initiatives like the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA). Additionally, there were concerns about false information intended to incite anxiety and panic among the public.

These details were provided in response to Captain (Rtd) Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), who sought information on public complaints related to Internet/5G coverage and fake news on social media, including complaint statistics, actions taken, and trends from early 2025 to the present.