Social media access for children under 16 set to be banned in Indonesia
New regulation in Indonesia will restrict minors from major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Roblox.
Indonesia plans to introduce strict limits on social media access for children under 16, as the government moves to address growing concerns about online safety and digital well-being.
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed that a new regulation has been signed banning minors from creating accounts on high-risk platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Implementation will begin gradually from 28 March as platforms adapt their systems to comply with the new rules.
Authorities say the measure responds to rising risks faced by young users online, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online fraud and excessive platform use.
Officials argue that stronger government intervention is needed to support families dealing with the influence of large digital platforms and algorithm-driven services.
Indonesia’s decision places the country at the forefront of youth-focused social media regulation in Southeast Asia. Similar restrictions have been debated globally, with Australia introducing a nationwide age threshold in 2025 that led platforms to remove millions of accounts linked to underage users.
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