Indonesia Takes Bold Step: Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16!

Indonesia's New Social Media Regulation

Jakarta, Indonesia: The Indonesian government has announced a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, as stated by Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid on Friday.

In her announcement, Hafid revealed that a new regulation has been signed, prohibiting minors from creating accounts on high-risk digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

This regulation will be implemented gradually starting March 28, allowing time for all platforms to meet compliance requirements.

Hafid emphasized the necessity of this measure, citing the growing dangers children face online, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online scams, and addiction. She stated, "The government aims to support parents in combating the overwhelming influence of algorithms on their children."

She acknowledged that the new regulation might initially cause discomfort, with children likely to voice complaints and parents unsure of how to address them.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs conducted an unannounced inspection at Meta Platforms' Jakarta office due to concerns regarding the management of harmful content on its services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The ministry issued a warning to Meta regarding its insufficient compliance with national regulations.

Requests for comments have been sent to TikTok and Meta, but responses are still pending.

With this move, Indonesia becomes the first Southeast Asian nation to impose such restrictions on children's access to social media.

In comparison, Australia began limiting social media access for teenagers in December 2025, resulting in the revocation of access for approximately 4 million users.