Indonesia is set to become the first non-Western country to ban social media access for children under 16. The policy, framed as a response to a digital emergency, will take effect on 28th March 2026.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has highlighted several dangers facing minors online, including exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and internet addiction.
Communications and digital affairs minister, Meutya Hafid, said she signed a government regulation prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on high-risk platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. Accounts belonging to children under 16 on these platforms will be deactivated gradually, “until all platforms fulfil their compliance obligations.”
Hafid stated: “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 added that the regulation aims to reclaim children’s digital futures: “We are taking this step to reclaim the sovereignty of our children’s future. We want technology to humanise humans, not sacrifice our children’s childhood.”
The minister acknowledged potential initial discomfort, saying that children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children’s complaints. Excessive use of digital platforms could affect children’s mental health and development, Hafid noted, and sanctions will be imposed on platforms that fail to comply with child protection obligations.
The announcement follows a surprise inspection of Meta Platforms’ Jakarta office. The ministry warned Meta over low compliance with regulations addressing harmful content, including disinformation, online gambling, defamation, and hate speech on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company reportedly acted on only 28.47% of flagged content related to online gambling and disinformation.
Residents and parents in Jakarta welcomed the restrictions. Marianah, 43, said: “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.” Harianto, 49, added, “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.”
Experts have warned of enforcement challenges. Bimantoro Kushari Pramono from Universitas Indonesia said age-based restrictions are difficult to fully enforce because most platforms rely on self-declared age at account creation. “Users are simply asked to enter their date of birth when creating an account. Technically, anyone can claim to be older than they actually are,” Pramono said.
However, Pramono viewed the regulation positively as a signal for platforms to take greater responsibility. “Policies like this could encourage platforms to develop more robust age verification mechanisms, stronger child-protection systems or safer platform designs for younger users. This policy is not merely about restricting children’s access, but also part of a broader negotiation of power between the state and global digital platforms in governing the digital space,” Pramono added.
Indonesia’s move aligns with international trends. Australia implemented a similar ban in December 2025, initially revoking access to 4.7 million accounts. Other countries, including France, Denmark, Greece, and Spain, have pushed for EU-level measures. India has considered a teen social media ban. In Malaysia, children under 16 cannot independently open social media accounts, though parent-managed accounts are allowed. A regulatory sandbox is underway to enforce a minimum age of 16 using MyKad verification.
TikTok and Meta have not yet responded publicly to Indonesia’s decision. Indonesia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such restrictions.
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