Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia will prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, the country’s minister for communication and digital affairs announced on Friday.
Meutya Hafid stated in a media briefing that she had signed a government regulation preventing minors under 16 from creating accounts on high-risk digital platforms. These platforms include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox, and Bigo Live, a widely used livestreaming platform. With a population of around 285 million people, Indonesia represents one of the largest markets for social media platforms globally.
The policy will be implemented in stages starting on 28 March, allowing time for digital platforms to meet the new compliance requirements.
“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction. The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms,” Hafid said.
She added that the measure is intended as the government’s strongest effort to address what she described as a digital emergency and to safeguard the future of children.
“We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children’s complaints,” Hafid said.
Public Support and Calls for Broader Online Protection
Several residents and parents in Jakarta expressed support for the government’s decision to limit children’s access to social media, particularly as many minors can easily access these platforms through smartphones without supervision.
“I think that it has been very worrying for minors, especially children. Because they have too much freedom with photos, videos and everything. Some education is educational, but some is misleading. So we really need to sort through social media again,” said Marianah, 43, who, like many Indonesians, uses a single name.
Others suggested that the government should also extend restrictions to other harmful online content, including pornography websites and online gambling platforms.
“As parents, we hope that online gambling and pornography websites can also be removed. So, in a sense, the government must also be fair. This is for the sake of the people themselves, for the children, and for the children’s growth and development,” said Harianto, 49, a resident in Jakarta.
Earlier this week, officials from Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs of Indonesia carried out an unannounced inspection at the Meta Platforms office in Jakarta. The inspection was conducted amid concerns over how harmful content is managed across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
In an official statement, the ministry said the visit resulted in a strong warning from the communications and information technology minister, citing Meta’s relatively low level of compliance with national regulations. Requests for comments sent to TikTok and Meta were not immediately answered.
Regional and Global Momentum for Youth Online Safety
With the new policy, Indonesia is set to become the first country in Southeast Asia to impose restrictions on children’s access to social media.
A similar restriction was introduced in Australia in December 2025. Since then, social media companies have removed access to approximately 4.7 million accounts believed to belong to children in the country.
Several other nations, including Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, are also considering or implementing measures to limit minors’ use of social media as concerns grow over the potential harm caused by exposure to unregulated online content.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s plan to restrict social media access for children under 16 reflects growing global concern over the impact of digital platforms on young users. As similar measures emerge in other countries, the policy highlights increasing efforts by governments to strengthen online safety and protect children in the digital age.
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