Indonesia Begins Enforcing Social Media Ban for Under-16s

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Indonesia has started implementing its ban on social media use for children under 16, becoming the first country to do so in Southeast Asia.

The ban is being implemented gradually and follows a new government regulation that prohibits children under 16 from accessing high-risk digital platforms that could expose them to potentially harmful content such as pornography and scams, as well as cyberbullying, addictive mechanisms, and exposure to exploitation.

The regulation came into effect on March 28 and prohibits minors from creating or maintaining accounts on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and Roblox. The policy will affect approximately 70 million children in the country, which is around a quarter of its total population.

Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said:

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 on compliance.

Hafid earlier explained:

Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction.

Platforms in the country are now required to identify and deactivate underage accounts. However, the reality of making sure platforms comply remains a challenge.

Despite this, major tech firms, including Google and TikTok, have acknowledged the regulation and indicated they will work with authorities. Earlier in March, the Indonesian government issued a warning to Meta over its low levels of regulatory compliance concerning harmful content.

The policy is part of a global trend of implementing tighter controls on children’s digital access as governments respond to concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and safety. 

Similar measures have already been introduced in Australia and are being considered in other countries, including France and the UK.