Indonesia\u2019s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has\nofficially issued rules prohibiting children under the age of 16 from\nhaving accounts on social media. The policy was praised by French\nPresident Emmanuel Macron. Through his X account, Macron responded to a\npost by AFP containing coverage of Indonesia\u2019s rule banning under-16s\nfrom using social media. Macron thanked Indonesia for joining the\nmovement to protect young people from the dangers of the digital world.\n\u2018Thanks for joining the movement,\u2019 he wrote on his X account, as seen on\nFriday (6 March 2026).<\/p>\n
France has approved a bill prohibiting the use of digital platforms\nby children under 15. Macron is a leading proponent in pushing for the\nlaw\u2019s passage. The bill was approved by the National Assembly on 27\nJanuary 2026. France is also the second country to enact social media\nrestrictions for children; Australia previously introduced a ban on\nunder-15s.<\/p>\n
Komdigi Bans Under-16s from Social Media<\/p>\n
According to detikInet, the government, via Komdigi, has officially\nintroduced ministerial regulations to suspend access for under-16s to\nseveral high-risk digital platforms. This policy accompanies the\nissuance of ministerial regulations derived from Government Regulation\nNumber 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Providers in\nProtection of Children, or known as PP Tunas.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications and Digital (Meutya Hafid) said the\nministerial regulations are issued today as part of strengthening\nprotections for children in the digital space.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we are issuing Ministerial Regulations as derivatives of PP\nTunas. Through these regulations, the government will suspend under-16s\u2019\naccounts on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and\nnetworking services,\u201d Meutya said in a statement on Friday (6 March\n2026).<\/p>\n
She added that this policy makes Indonesia one of the first\nnon-Western countries to implement age-based restrictions on access to\ndigital platforms.<\/p>\n
According to Meutya, the step is taken because children are\nincreasingly vulnerable to a range of online threats, from exposure to\npornography and cyberbullying to online scams, with addiction being the\nmain concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats,\nfrom exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, to which\naddiction is the primary concern,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The implementation phase of the policy will begin on 28 March 2026.\nIn the initial phase, under-16s\u2019 accounts on high-risk platforms will be\ngradually deactivated. Currently, platforms covered include YouTube,\nTikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live.<\/p>\n
Komdigi said the deactivation process will be carried out gradually\nuntil all platforms comply with the obligations set out in the\nregulation.<\/p>\n
Meutya acknowledged that implementing the rule may cause some\ndiscomfort at the early stages for both children and parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe realise the implementation of this regulation may cause\ndiscomfort initially. Children may complain, and parents may be confused\nin dealing with their children\u2019s complaints,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The government also emphasised that the policy aims to assist parents\nin protecting children from the negative effects of the digital space,\nso monitoring technology use is no longer solely the family\u2019s\nburden.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/french-president-macron-supports-indonesias-move-to-restrict-under-16s-from-using-social-media-1772801964", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }