Indonesia outlines plan to limit under-16s’ access to social media
Source: TechCrunch
Indonesia’s upcoming social media age restrictions
Indonesia will soon become the latest country to pass laws restricting children’s access to social media, following Australia and Malaysia.
Age‑gated approach
Unlike Australia, which has banned users under 16 from social media altogether, Indonesia is adopting an age‑gated system:
- Children 13 – 15 may use platforms the government deems “lower‑risk.”
- Users 16 and older may access “higher‑risk” platforms.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced the plan on Friday, noting that the measures will be enforced one year after they are signed into regulation on 28 March 2026.
Platforms classified as “higher‑risk”
The following platforms are considered higher‑risk and will be restricted to users aged 16+:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Threads
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Bigo Live
- Roblox
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid explained the regulation in a video posted to Instagram.
Enforcement and sanctions
The regulation does not impose sanctions on children or parents. Instead, sanctions target digital platforms that fail to meet their child‑protection obligations. The goal is to mitigate risks such as exposure to harmful content, interactions with unknown individuals, child exploitation, and addiction to digital platforms.
Context within the region
Indonesia is not alone in moving toward age‑based restrictions. In recent months, several countries—including Denmark, Spain, France, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom—have announced similar plans to limit social‑media access for children and teens.
Internet usage statistics
- Approximately 299 million Indonesians are connected to the internet.
- Nearly 80 % of children actively use online platforms.
- UNICEF‑based figures indicate that about half of Indonesia’s children have encountered sexual content on social media, and 42 % reported feeling frightened or uncomfortable as a result.
Recent related actions
The announcement came a day after Indonesia issued a warning to Meta for not curbing online gambling and disinformation on its platforms.
Sources: BBC, Kominfo, TechCrunch, Reuters.