Indonesia Officially Restricts Social Media Access for Children Under 16

Jakarta, MINA – The Indonesian government has officially issued technical regulations restricting access to social media platforms and digital networking services for children under the age of 16.

Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, explained that the policy stems from concerns over increasing threats in the digital space that endanger Indonesia’s younger generation.

“Our children face increasingly real threats: exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online fraud. The government is stepping in so that parents no longer fight alone against the power of algorithms,” Meutya said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

Through the regulation, the government has established implementation stages for child protection policies on digital platforms. The initial phase will begin on March 28, 2026, when accounts of children under 16 on high-risk digital platforms will begin to be deactivated.

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In the first phase, the policy will be applied to several social media platforms and networking services deemed high-risk, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

Meutya acknowledged that implementing the policy will require adjustments from various parties, including digital platforms and the wider community.

“We realize that implementing this regulation will cause inconvenience. However, we believe this is the best step the government needs to take to ensure a safer digital space for children,” she emphasized.

The Minister stated that this policy demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening child protection in the era of digital transformation. She noted that Indonesia has become one of the pioneers among non-Western countries taking firm action to protect children from the negative impacts of technology.

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“We should be proud, because Indonesia has become one of the pioneers among non-Western countries taking firm action in protecting children in the digital space. We are taking this step to ensure our children’s future grows healthily in the technological era,” Meutya said.

The government hopes that through this policy, Indonesia’s digital transformation can proceed hand in hand with child protection, making the digital space a safer, healthier, and more responsible environment for the younger generation.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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