The government of Indonesia has announced a sweeping new regulation that will ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, as part of efforts to protect minors from online risks.
The policy was confirmed Friday by Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, who said she had signed a government regulation restricting minors from creating accounts on what authorities classify as high-risk digital platforms.
Platforms Affected by the Ban
Under the new regulation, children younger than 16 will no longer be allowed to maintain accounts on several popular platforms, including:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Threads
- X (Twitter)
- Bigo Live
- Roblox
Implementation of the rule will begin gradually from March 28, giving digital platforms time to meet compliance requirements before full enforcement.
Government Cites Growing Online Threats
Hafid said the government introduced the regulation in response to growing concerns about the dangers children face online.
“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud and, most importantly, addiction,” Hafid said in a statement to media.
She added that the regulation is intended to support families struggling to manage children’s online activity.
“The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms,” she stated.
Officials describe the policy as part of a broader response to what authorities call a “digital emergency,” aimed at protecting children’s wellbeing and restoring parental control over online exposure.
Possible Challenges During Implementation
The minister acknowledged that the policy could initially create challenges for both parents and children.
“We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond,” Hafid said.
Authorities say public education campaigns will accompany the rollout to help families understand the changes.
Government Scrutiny of Social Media Companies
The announcement follows increased government scrutiny of global technology companies operating in Indonesia.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs conducted a surprise inspection of the Jakarta office of Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Officials issued a strong warning to the company over what they described as low compliance with Indonesian regulations related to harmful online content.
Requests for comment were sent to both TikTok and Meta, but neither company had responded publicly at the time of reporting.
Part of a Global Trend
Indonesia will become the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such restrictions on children’s access to social media.
Similar measures have already begun elsewhere. In Australia, social media restrictions for teenagers were introduced in December 2025, leading platforms to deactivate approximately 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to underage users.
Digital policy experts say the move reflects a growing global effort by governments to regulate social media use among minors and address concerns about mental health, online safety and digital addiction.
