70 Million Indonesian Citizens Banned from Using Social Media from 28 March

Jakarta — The government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), has launched a new regulation delaying social media use for children under 16 years of age. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid noted that approximately 70 million children fall within this age group.

“For children aged 18 in accordance with existing law, there are approximately 82 million children. If we lower the threshold to 16 years as per this regulation, there are approximately 70 million children,” Meutya stated during a coordination meeting on the implementation of Government Regulation on Child Protection in the Digital Ecosystem (PP Tunas) on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

This figure is substantially larger compared to other nations implementing similar restrictions, such as Australia, which has only 5.7 million children aged 16.

Meutya explained that Indonesia’s large population of children aged 16 presents a significant challenge in enforcing the social media access delay regulation. Indonesia is the first nation to formally implement a large-scale prohibition on social media use for children. The regulation is outlined in the Ministry Regulation Number 9 of 2026, derived from Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025, known as PP Tunas, and will take effect on 28 March 2026.

“This is certainly a challenge, but we must take steps to protect our children. It is not easy, but we must proceed, and with the positive outcomes of today’s meeting, we are all optimistic that despite the challenges, we will be able to implement this effectively and efficiently,” she said.

In the initial phase, eight platforms will be included on the restricted list: YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Bigo Live, X, Instagram, Facebook, and Roblox.

For subsequent phases, the government will evaluate digital service providers based on risk indicators affecting children, including contact with unknown individuals, exposure to harmful content, potential exploitation in the digital ecosystem, and risk of addiction.

“If one of these risk indicators is identified, that factor automatically qualifies as high-risk with the age restriction applying to those under 16,” Meutya stated.

Meutya noted that six ministries — the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Population and Family Development, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education — have agreed to accelerate implementation measures toward 28 March 2026 to ensure child protection in the digital sphere is undertaken more effectively.

“This means that collectively, all of us have agreed to take accelerated action toward 28 March so that efforts to protect children in the digital domain can be implemented more effectively in accordance with the President’s vision,” she concluded.