Indonesia Enforces Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s in Regional First
By Tanveer Ahmed :
Indonesia has begun enforcing nationwide restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 16, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to introduce such a policy as governments worldwide seek to address cyberbullying and excessive internet use among young people.
The new rules, which came into force on Saturday, target users under 16 on several major digital platforms identified by authorities as “high risk”. These include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Under the policy, the platforms are required to block or remove accounts belonging to underage users. Companies operating in Indonesia must comply with the regulations or face possible sanctions.
“There is no compromise for compliance. Every business operating in Indonesia must follow existing regulations,” Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said during a press briefing on Friday.
She added that several platforms, including X, TikTok, Roblox and Bigo Live, had already announced or implemented measures to meet the new requirements.
Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest online populations, has around 70 million people under the age of 16. Officials say concerns about online risks have grown as social media becomes more deeply integrated into everyday life.
Government authorities have cited issues such as cyberbullying, exposure to pornography, online fraud and excessive screen time as key reasons for the restrictions. A United Nations-backed study conducted in 2023 found that nearly half of Indonesian minors had encountered sexual content on social media, while a similar proportion reported experiencing online bullying.
Officials have also pointed to research suggesting that young Indonesians spend an average of 7.5 hours per day using digital devices.
The move follows a similar policy introduced by Australia in December, which made it the first country to impose a nationwide ban on social media use for children. Several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Ireland and Austria, are also considering comparable measures.
However, the Indonesian policy has drawn criticism from some rights groups and young users who argue that it may not address the root causes of online harms.
Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, described the measure as “an overly simplistic solution to a complex problem”.
“The focus should be on making digital spaces safer, not excluding children from them,” he said in a statement, adding that such policies risk overlooking children’s right to participate in decisions that affect their digital lives.
Some young users have also expressed concern about the impact of the restrictions.
Abbygael, a 13-year-old student from West Kalimantan, said social media plays an important role in her daily life.
“For me, social media is mainly a place to find information and entertainment,” she said, adding that while she recognises the potential risks of excessive internet use, she believes age-appropriate controls would be a better approach than an outright ban.
Parents have also raised questions about how the new rules will be enforced.
Fransisca Angelina, a mother of two daughters under 16, said she was uncertain whether the restrictions would be effective.
“I’ve been thinking about how strict the enforcement will be and whether children might still find ways to access these platforms,” she said.
“In my opinion, the most important factor is still the role of parents in monitoring and guiding children’s internet use.”
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