Indonesia to ban social media use for children under 16 years

The Indonesia government has announced a new regulation prohibiting children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on several major social media platforms, in a move aimed at protecting minors from potential risks associated with online content and digital interactions.

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said on Friday that she has signed a government regulation enforcing the restriction . Under the new rule, children below 16 will not be allowed to register accounts on what the government classifies as high-risk digital platforms.

The list of platforms covered under the regulation includes popular services such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.

According to Hafid, the regulation is part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen online safety for children and reduce their exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and other digital risks. Authorities have expressed concern over the growing time minors spend on social media and its potential impact on mental health and overall well-being.

Enforcing the ban, however, may pose significant challenges for social media companies, as children can easily bypass age restrictions by entering false dates of birth while creating accounts. Such measures could also raise concerns over privacy, data protection and the storage of sensitive information. Companies may face technical and logistical hurdles in implementing large-scale verification systems, while minors could still circumvent restrictions by using parents’ accounts or shared devices. Experts say the effectiveness of the regulation will largely depend on how technology firms implement safeguards and how strongly authorities enforce compliance.

Critics also point out that restricting access to social media could limit children’s exposure to digital platforms that are increasingly important for learning, communication and developing technological skills. Platforms such as YouTube and Roblox are often used for educational content, creativity and collaborative learning. Experts say governments can address this concern by encouraging supervised or age-appropriate access, promoting dedicated child-safe versions of platforms, strengthening parental control tools and integrating digital literacy programmes in schools. Such measures could help ensure that children continue to gain exposure to technology while reducing the risks associated with unrestricted social media use.

Globally, only a few countries have moved toward similar restrictions on children’s social media access. Australia became the first nation to pass a law banning social media use for those under 16, while Malaysia has said it plans to introduce a similar ban in the coming years, reflecting a growing international push to strengthen online safety for minors.