Jakarta, INTI – The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is currently drafting regulations on the minimum age for children using social media. Minister Meutya Hafid stated that the ministry aims to establish a strong foundation for policy-making by collaborating with various stakeholders.
Key Aspects of the New Regulation:
- Prohibition of child profiling in the digital space
- Setting age restrictions for social media access
- Preventing children’s exposure to harmful content
- Classifying digital service providers (PSE) based on risk profiles
- Developing digital well-being indicators for children
- Requiring social media platforms to implement verification technology to prevent minors from pretending to be adults
- Mandatory user education initiatives by platforms
Current Age Restrictions on Social Media Platforms:
1. Meta (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Threads)
- Users 13+: Allowed to manage their own accounts, but age requirements may vary by region.
- Users 10-12:
- Accounts must be managed by a parent or guardian.
- Parents can help transition an inappropriate account to a suitable one.
- If a user provides false age information, they risk losing access to their account.
- Parental Control Features:
- Manage passwords and privacy settings
- Monitor screen time
- Restrict app access
- Report violations
- Approve in-app purchases
- Control social interactions
2. Instagram (Teen Accounts)
Instagram has launched Teen Accounts in Indonesia, automatically applying safety features for users under 16. Key protections include:
- Private Accounts: Accounts are set to private by default, requiring approval for new followers.
- Restricted Messaging: Only allows messages from followed accounts.
- Content Filtering: Limits exposure to sensitive content.
- Interaction Controls: Limits tags, mentions, and enables automatic anti-bullying filters.
- Daily Time Limit: Reminds teens to log off after 60 minutes of usage.
- Sleep Mode: Activates automatically from 10 PM to 7 AM, silencing notifications.
3. TikTok
TikTok applies different policies based on user age groups:
- Users 14-15:
- Accounts set to private by default.
- No direct messaging allowed.
- Duet, stitch, and video downloads disabled.
- Comments only allowed from friends.
- Cannot appear on the "For You" page.
- Users 16-17:
- Accounts private by default (can be changed to public).
- Direct messages and downloads disabled by default.
- Eligible for "For You" page visibility.
- Users 18+:
- Accounts public by default.
- Full access to messaging, duet, stitch, and video downloads.
- Additional Protections:
- Screen time limited to 60 minutes daily for teens.
- Night notifications disabled for users under 18.
- Collaboration with safety organizations for enhanced child protection.
4. Google & YouTube
- Minimum age for a Google account: 13 years old (varies by country, e.g., South Korea: 14, Vietnam: 15).
- Children under 13: Restricted to YouTube Kids, unless supervised through Google’s Family Link.
- If parental supervision is added to a child’s account, certain data is deleted, including:
- Uploaded videos
- Chat history and comments
- Live chat and posts
- Playlists and stories
- Purchased/rented content
- Subscription lists
Conclusion
With these upcoming regulations, social media platforms may need to adjust their policies further to comply with government standards. The ultimate goal is to create a safer digital environment for children while ensuring they can still enjoy online experiences under proper supervision.
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