Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for central Southeast Asia and Asean, said Meta hoped Malaysian policymakers would take international best practices into account.
However, the company will ultimately comply with any regulatory decisions, she said.
Meta, a multinational tech company with its headquarters in the US, operates major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads.
“We continue to have very constructive conversations with the Malaysian government about their plans,” said Koh during a media briefing at a hotel here today.
Malaysia expects to enforce a minimum age requirement of 16 for social media use as early as July. The move is aimed at combating cyberbullying, harmful content and addiction.
Koh said Meta was sharing with Putrajaya its experience in imposing social media controls in Australia.
Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide under-16 social media rule in December 2025.
Its “delay, not ban” model places accounts in quarantine until users reach the age threshold, rather than deleting them altogether.
Countries such as France and Spain have explored similar age thresholds, while parts of Southeast Asia are beginning to move in the same direction with a delayed access approach.
Updated teen safety features
Koh also talked about the rollout of updated teen safety features on Instagram in Malaysia, which she said are intended to provide a safer alternative to outright bans.
“Everyone under the age of 18 will be placed into Teen Accounts. This applies to both new accounts and existing accounts on the platform,” Koh said, adding that the system limits contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.
Among the key updates is a shift towards a PG-13 content rating framework, aligning what teens see on the platform with age-appropriate movie standards.
This will apply across feeds, search results, recommendations and direct messages.
Koh said Meta had also introduced a stricter “Limited Content” setting, which is intended to reduce reliance on parental intervention.
“This is something a teen can change on their own to a more restrictive setting. At the same time, parents supervising the account can also make changes for their teens.”