Indonesia to restrict social media access for children
Indonesia will become the latest country to install online guardrails to reduce the risks of addiction and cyberbullying by restricting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on the safety and mental health of minors, some governments have imposed restrictions on children’s social media.
Australia banned social media for under-16s in December, and Spain announced in February that it would ban under-16s from accessing social media.
Indonesia’s neighbor Malaysia also announced in November that it would ban social media for users under 16 from 2026.
Indonesian Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said in a video statement that the government will “delay access” to social media accounts of children under 16 through a ministerial regulation published on Friday.
Meutya stated that, starting from March 28, accounts owned by children under the age of 16 on “high-risk platforms” will be gradually disabled, adding platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Roblox.
“The process will be carried out gradually until all platforms fulfill their obligations,” he said, without addressing what they would need to do to meet the new requirements.
“We recognize that this may cause discomfort initially. Children may complain and parents may be confused about their complaints.”
“Our children face many risks, from porn, cyberbullying, online fraud and, most importantly, addiction,” he said, adding that Indonesia would be the first non-Western country to impose such restrictions.
TikTok, Meta and Roblox, which owns Facebook and Instagram, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Details of the new regulation have not been announced yet. Ministry officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to a survey conducted by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association with 8,700 people, internet penetration in Indonesia, with a population of approximately 280 million, reached 79.5 percent in 2024.
The survey showed that 48 percent of children under 12 have access to the internet, and some respondents in this age group use Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
The survey showed that internet usage is 87 percent among Gen Z users aged 12 to 27.
