JAKARTA, Indonesia — The government of Indonesia has begun implementing a new regulation that prohibits children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media and digital platforms, in a move aimed at protecting minors from online risks.
The policy, which took effect Saturday, restricts underage users from creating accounts on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox. Authorities said these platforms may expose children to harmful content, including pornography, cyberbullying, scams and addiction.
With the measure, Indonesia becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such a ban, following similar steps taken by Australia last year as part of broader efforts to regulate children’s online activity.
Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said the rollout will be gradual to allow platforms time to comply. She emphasized that all digital companies operating in the country must align their services with national regulations.
“The government has instructed all digital platforms operating in Indonesia to immediately bring their products, features and services into compliance with applicable regulations. There will be no compromise,” Hafid said.
The regulation is expected to affect around 70 million children in Indonesia, which has a population of about 280 million. Authorities identified high-risk platforms based on factors such as exposure to strangers, potential predators, harmful content, and vulnerabilities to exploitation and data-related scams.
Hafid acknowledged the challenges of enforcement, particularly in ensuring that platforms deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 and report compliance. “This is certainly a task. But we must take steps to save our children,” she said.
Public reaction to the policy has been mixed. Maura Munthe, 13, said she feels conflicted but largely supports the move, even as many of her peers worry about losing access to entertainment and social interaction online.
“There are always other games on my phone, not only the online ones,” she said, adding that she may spend more time playing offline or socializing in person.
Parents have largely welcomed the regulation. Leni Sinuraya, Munthe’s mother, said the policy could help restore parental control over children’s screen time.
“Nowadays, when we see kids sitting in a restaurant, they have a phone right in front of them. It’s clear that they’re addicted,” she said, noting that children often refuse to eat or interact without devices.
Child safety advocates have also weighed in. Diena Haryana, founder of the Semai Jiwa Amini Foundation, said research shows that excessive social media use can negatively affect children’s mental health, contributing to anxiety and depression.
However, she stressed that digital platforms also offer educational benefits and should not be entirely dismissed. Instead, she called for balanced guidance from parents, schools and communities.
“We also need to remember that they need to learn to use this digital technology at the right time, at the right age, and with the right guidance,” Haryana said.
She added that the full impact of the restrictions will only become clear over time, predicting initial resistance from children and adjustment challenges for parents.
Major tech platforms have begun responding cautiously. Elon Musk’s platform X has already updated its Indonesian policy to reflect the minimum age requirement of 16. Meanwhile, YouTube, owned by Google, said it supports efforts to create a risk-based regulatory framework, while TikTok signaled its willingness to comply and continue engaging with Indonesian authorities.
Globally, governments are increasingly examining the impact of social media on young users. Aside from Australia, countries such as Spain, France and the United Kingdom are considering or implementing similar measures to address concerns over children’s exposure to unregulated online content.
