Indonesia has begun rolling out a sweeping new regulation that bans children under 16 from accessing major digital platforms a first for Southeast Asia and one of the most ambitious online‑safety moves anywhere in the world.
The rule, approved earlier this month, blocks minors from creating accounts on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox. The government says the restrictions will be phased in gradually as platforms adjust their systems to comply.
The measure mirrors Australia’s world‑first crackdown last year, when social media companies revoked access to millions of underage accounts. Indonesia’s policy, however, applies to an estimated 70 million children a scale unmatched globally.
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said high‑risk platforms were identified based on exposure to strangers, predators, harmful content, exploitation risks and data‑security vulnerabilities. She acknowledged the rollout will be challenging.
“This is certainly a task. But we must take steps to save our children,” she said. “It’s not easy. Nevertheless, we must see it through.”
Thirteen‑year‑old Maura Munthe, who spends about four hours a day on social media and Roblox, said she feels “50‑50” about the ban but mostly supports it. Her classmates, she added, fear losing access to entertainment and connection.
Her mother, Leni Sinuraya, believes the policy is overdue. “Parents have lost control social media platforms have taken over,” she said. “Kids won’t eat unless they’re given a phone. Mealtime should be for talking to each other.”
Child‑safety advocate Diena Haryana, founder of the SEJIWA Foundation, said social media can fuel anxiety and depression but also offers valuable learning opportunities. She stressed that children need guidance, not isolation.
“They need to learn digital technology at the right time, at the right age, and with the right guidance,” she said. She expects confusion among parents and frustration among children as the ban takes effect, urging families and schools to help kids reconnect with the real world. “There’s plenty for children to explore offline.”
So far, only a few companies have publicly reacted. Elon Musk’s X updated its Indonesia safety page to state that 16 is now the legal minimum age: “It’s not our choice it’s what Indonesian law requires.”
YouTube said it supports Indonesia’s effort to build a risk‑based framework that protects children while preserving access to information.
As the world watches, Indonesia’s bold experiment in digital child protection is now underway and its impact may shape how other nations approach online safety in the years ahead.
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