50% of Children Exposed to Sexual Content, Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs Imposes Under-16 Age Limit on Social Media

Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid stressed the serious implementation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Administration in Child Protection, known as PP Tunas. The regulation is designed specifically to safeguard Indonesian children from threats posed by high-risk digital platforms. She announced this during a Ministerial Coordinating Meeting at the office of Kemenko PMK, Central Jakarta, on Thursday 5 March 2026. She highlighted the urgency of child protection given the large share of internet users who are children, amounting to nearly 80 percent of the total 229 million users. Under PP Tunas, the government sets a standard for age access to ensure the mental and physical safety of children in cyberspace. The key provisions state that access to high-risk platforms will be delayed until age 16, while access to low-risk services will be allowed from age 13. Hafid explained that the policy is not an indiscriminate restriction of the internet, but a regulation of access to services with high potential risks, such as exposure to dangerous content and interactions with strangers. The urgency of PP Tunas is based on concerning data for the future of the younger generation. UNICEF data indicate that around 50 percent of Indonesian children active on the internet have been exposed to sexual content on social media. Additionally, 42% of children report feeling scared or uncomfortable while online due to negative experiences in the digital space. The government also notes a very high rate of online child exploitation, reaching approximately 1.45 million cases. “Half of Indonesian children have seen sexual content online. This is a serious warning for all of us. Digital platforms must share responsibility to protect children,” Hafid stressed. Beyond the threats of online predators and obscene content, the Minister also highlighted risks related to digital addiction. He noted that even if content is not inherently problematic, excessive use can disrupt the growth and mental health of adolescents. He added that the success of PP Tunas requires cross-ministerial and agency cooperation, including the education and health sectors and law enforcement. The government calls on all digital platforms operating in Indonesia to comply with and uphold the child protection laws applicable in the country from 2026. With tens of millions of child internet users, implementing this in Indonesia will be complex. However, PP Tunas is expected to serve as a strong bulwark for protecting the future generation of Indonesia. (Ant/Z-10)