Indonesia issues rules delaying social media access for children under 16

The Indonesian government has issued new technical regulations aimed at strengthening child protection in the digital space, including restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16.

The rules are set out in Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which serves as the implementing regulation of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operations in Child Protection, also known as PP TUNAS.

The regulation establishes the technical framework for implementing government policy to regulate children’s access to digital platforms deemed to pose high risks.

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said the regulation represents a concrete step by the state to protect Indonesian children from various online threats.

“Today, we have issued a Ministerial Regulation derived from PP TUNAS. Through this regulation, the government postpones account access for children under the age of 16 on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and networking services,” Meutya said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, 6 March 2026.

She acknowledged that the policy’s implementation may require adjustments from digital platforms and the public.

“We recognise that implementing this regulation may cause inconvenience. However, we believe this is the best step the government must take to ensure a safer digital space for children,” she said.

Implementation and affected platforms

Under the regulation, children under 16 will not be permitted to hold accounts on digital platforms classified as high risk. The policy will be implemented gradually, beginning on 28 March 2026, when accounts belonging to users under 16 on such platforms will start to be deactivated in accordance with the regulation.

During the initial phase, the policy will apply to several widely used platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

According to the ministry, the implementation will proceed in stages until all relevant platforms comply with their obligations under the regulation.

Meutya said Indonesian children face increasingly serious threats in the digital environment, including exposure to harmful content and online exploitation.

“Our children face increasingly real threats: exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online fraud,” she said. “The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to struggle alone against the power of algorithms.”

The minister added that the policy reflects Indonesia’s broader commitment to strengthening child protection as the country undergoes rapid digital transformation.

“We should be proud that Indonesia is among the pioneering non-Western countries taking firm steps to protect children in the digital space,” she said. “We want technology to humanise people and support the full development of the younger generation.”

Part of a growing global trend

Indonesia’s policy comes amid growing international concern about the impact of social media on children and teenagers, with several governments introducing or considering restrictions on minors’ access to digital platforms.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Indonesia’s decision in a post on X on Friday, referring to international efforts to strengthen protections for minors online.

France’s National Assembly approved a bill in January that would ban social media use for children under the age of 15. Australia has also introduced restrictions on underage access to social media, while other countries — including Malaysia, Spain and Denmark — are considering similar measures.

Singapore has also indicated interest in similar safeguarding efforts. Public opinion research suggests strong support for such policies. A nationally representative survey conducted by Verian Singapore between 6 and 15 June 2025 among 1,020 residents found that 68 per cent of Singaporeans support setting the minimum age for social media use at 16.

The study also found broader public backing for digital well-being measures. Around 67 per cent of respondents supported a “right to disconnect” from work communications outside office hours, while 58 per cent supported a mandatory ban on smartphones in primary and secondary schools, with support rising to 64 per cent among respondents with children.