Mirella Pandjaitan
Mar 09, 2026
The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, will implement a policy restricting social media access for children under 16 starting 28th March 2026.
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said the initial phase of the policy will involve deactivating accounts belonging to users identified under 16 across several digital platforms. The policy will target high-risk platforms, particularly social media and networking services, in its early stages.
Platforms included in this category include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Instagram, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
Hafid acknowledged that implementing the policy will require adjustments from various stakeholders, including digital platform providers and the public. However, the move is an important effort by the government to create a safer digital environment for children.
“We should be proud that Indonesia is among the pioneering non-Western countries taking decisive action to protect children in the digital space. This step is taken to ensure our children grow up safely in the era of technology,” she said.
The policy is supported by the issuance of Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs No. 9 of 2026, stating technical guidelines for digital platforms in fulfilling their obligations to protect children in the digital space.
“Our children face increasingly real threats, from exposure to pornography and cyberbullying to online fraud. The government is stepping in, so parents are no longer left to fight the power of algorithms alone,” she added.
Through this policy, the government hopes Indonesia’s digital space will become a safer, healthier, and more responsible environment for young people, while ensuring that digital transformation progresses alongside child protection.
Social media restriction is considered elsewhere
Many countries are considering restricting social media access for children and teenagers to protect them from risks such as cyberbullying, addiction, harmful content, and online predators.
The move gained global attention after Australia adopted one of the strictest policies. However, the approach has sparked debate. Digital rights groups such as Amnesty Tech have questioned the effectiveness of outright bans and raised concerns about privacy issues related to strict age-verification systems.
Despite the debate, several countries are moving forward with regulations. These countries have implemented or are considering restrictions:
1. Australia - Official policy implemented.
2. Denmark - Planned legislation to set the minimum age for social media use at 15.
3. France - Law passed, awaiting final implementation of parental consent for users under 15 to access social media.
4. Germany - Proposal to ban social media use for children under 16 is debated in parliament.
5. Greece - Early-stage proposal of a policy that would set the minimum social media age at 15.
6. Malaysia - Policy planned to introduce a similar restriction for users under 16.
7. Slovenia - Draft legislation that would block social media access for children under 15.
8. Spain - Government proposal to ban social media use for children under 16.
9. United Kingdom - Public consultation stage about possible age restrictions and platform regulations.