Indonesia\u2019s policy to restrict children\u2019s access to social media\nemerged amid the rise of cases involving children in digital\nspaces.Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has\nofficially issued the Communication and Digital Affairs Minister\u2019s\nRegulation Number 9 of 2026, which restricts social media access for\nchildren under 16 on high-risk digital platforms.<\/p>\n
The regulation serves as the implementing rule for Government\nRegulation No.\u00a017 of 2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child\nProtection, locally known as PP TUNAS.<\/p>\n
Through this policy, the government provides specific instructions\nfor digital platform providers to protect Indonesian children\nonline.<\/p>\n
In this context, digital platforms are defined as internet-based\nsystems that facilitate online interaction, transactions, and content\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
The regulation, set to take effect on March 28, 2026, mandates the\nphased deactivation of accounts belonging to children under 16 on\nhigh-risk digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook,\nInstagram, Roblox and Bigo Live.<\/p>\n
The platforms are categorized as high risk not solely based on the\ntype of content circulated, but also on the digital architecture of\nplatforms which is designed to maximize user engagement.<\/p>\n
Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Roblox utilize powerful\nbehavioral psychology to increase watch and play time. For children who\nhave not yet reached cognitive maturity, these mechanisms can\npotentially lead to negative impacts, ranging from digital addiction to\npsychological disorders.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is not the first country to take that step. Australia\npioneered the move by banning access to social media for children aged\nunder 16 years with a regulation enacted on December 10, 2025.<\/p>\n
The ban covers platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, and\nSnapchat. Under this policy, parental consent cannot be used as an\nexemption. Platforms that violate these rules may face fines of up to 50\nmillion Australian dollars.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Denmark reached a political agreement in November 2025 to\nrestrict social media use for children under the age of 15, with the\ngoal of passing it into law by mid-2026. The country is even utilizing\nits national digital identity verification system to ensure the accuracy\nof users\u2019 ages on the platforms.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia restricts under-16 access to high-risk\ndigital platforms<\/p>\n
Surge in cases<\/p>\n
Indonesia\u2019s policy to restrict children\u2019s access to social media\nemerged amid the rise of cases involving children in digital spaces.<\/p>\n
UNICEF data shows that approximately 50 percent of Indonesian\nchildren using the internet have been exposed to sexual content on\nsocial media, while 42 percent admit to feeling afraid or uncomfortable\ndue to their digital experiences.<\/p>\n
A report by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, in\ncollaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited\nChildren (NCMEC), also highlights the alarmingly high rates of online\nchild sexual exploitation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia currently ranks third globally, with approximately 1.45\nmillion recorded cases of online child sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n
One common tactic used by predators is utilizing fake accounts to\ngroom children into sending explicit content\u2014a practice known as\nsextortion.<\/p>\n
A case in Situbondo in December 2025 serves as a grim example, where\na 14-year-old teenager became a victim of sexual assault after being\ngroomed through social media communications.<\/p>\n
Additionally, cyberbullying has also triggered various tragedies. The\nIndonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded that in the\nperiod of 2023\u20132025, Indonesia\u2019s child suicide cases were the highest\namong Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
In October 2025, a series of child suicide occurred in Cianjur and\nSukabumi, triggered by psychological pressure due to cyberbullying.<\/p>\n
KPAI data shows that the majority of victims fall within the 13\u201315\nage bracket\u2014the very demographic most affected by current social media\nage-restriction policies.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, social media has even been exploited as a tool for other\nserious crimes, including human trafficking.<\/p>\n
The kidnapping of a toddler named Bilqis in Makassar in November 2025\nuncovered a child-selling scheme operating through Facebook groups under\nthe guise of adoption, with prices ranging from Rp3 million\n(approximately US$177) to Rp80 million.<\/p>\n
The case revealed a cross-provincial human trafficking network\noperating through digital platforms.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia flags rising global threat of online romance\nscams<\/p>\n
Challenges<\/p>\n
Based on Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data and the 2025 digital\nliteracy survey, approximately 39.7 percent of early childhood children\nin Indonesia already use mobile devices, while internet penetration\namong Generation Z has reached 87 percent.<\/p>\n
In underdeveloped, remote, and outermost regions, children aged 13\u201314\nreportedly show even higher levels of social media addiction due to\nlimited real-world entertainment options. The effectiveness of this new\nministerial regulation relies heavily on the \u201ctriangle of\noversight\u201d.<\/p>\n
The three main components are the government\u2019s firmness enforcing\nregulations, digital platforms\u2019 compliance, and parents\u2019 ability to\nunderstand and supervise children\u2019s digital activities. If one of the\nthree does not run optimally, children could potentially use a loophole\nto access risky digital space.<\/p>\n
In terms of regulation, the government has already established a\nclear sanctions mechanism under the Government Regulation Number 17 of\n2025.<\/p>\n
These sanctions range from written warnings and administrative fines\nto the temporary suspension of services and the blocking of access for\nelectronic system providers that fail to comply with the rules.<\/p>\n
However, implementing this policy requires an educational approach by\nimproving digital literacy within both the education system and the\nfamily environment.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesian VP urges teachers, parents to boost AI\nliteracy<\/p>\n
Digital ecosystem and children<\/p>\n
Children aged<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-indonesia-is-restricting-social-media-for-children-under-16-1773388312", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }