Indonesia moves to bar under-16s from social media in sweeping digital safety push

Indonesia will bar users under the age of 16 from accessing a range of major social media and digital platforms under a new government regulation aimed at strengthening child protection online.

The policy, formalised under Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026, was issued by the ministry of communication and digital affairs (Komdigi) as a derivative rule of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on electronic system governance and child protection, also known as PP Tunas.

Under the regulation, children under 16 will be prohibited from owning accounts on several platforms classified as “high-risk”, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

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Communication and digital affairs minister Meutya Hafid said the rule is intended to strengthen protections for minors in Indonesia’s rapidly expanding digital environment.

“Through this regulation, the government postpones access to accounts for children under 16 on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and networking services,” Hafid said in an official statement on Friday.

The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on 28 March 2026, with enforcement rolled out gradually. Accounts already registered to users under 16 will begin to be deactivated in stages as platforms work toward compliance with the new regulation.

Hafid said the policy positions Indonesia among the first non-Western countries to impose age-based restrictions on children’s access to digital platforms.

Children face increasingly real threats – from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and, most importantly, addiction, she said. “The government is here so parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant algorithm.”

The minister acknowledged that the regulation may cause inconvenience but argued it is necessary when the future of children is at stake. She noted that nearly 80% of the country’s roughly 229 million internet users are children connected to the internet. Citing UNICEF data, she added that around half of Indonesian children online have been exposed to sexual content on social media, while 42% report feeling afraid or uncomfortable due to their digital experiences.

Government reports have also recorded around 1.45 million cases of online child exploitation. 

“This is a serious warning for all of us. Digital platforms must take responsibility for protecting children,” Hafid said. “The regulation does not sanction children or parents, but digital platforms that fail to meet their child protection obligations.”

Indonesia’s move reflects a broader global trend as governments increasingly scrutinise the impact of social media on younger users. Similar measures restricting minors’ access to online platforms have been introduced in countries such as France and Australia, as well as in several US states.

For brands and marketers, the regulation could reshape how youth audiences are reached in Indonesia’s digital ecosystem, particularly on platforms that have become central to Gen Z and younger user engagement.

The phased rollout is expected to prompt adjustments from platform operators as they respond to new compliance requirements across the country’s social media landscape.

“Technology should advance humanity, not cost our children their childhood,” said Hafid.

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