Al Washliyah Backs Regulation Prohibiting Children Under 16 from Using Social Media
Jakarta — KH Masyhuril Khamis, chairman of the Central Board of Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah (PB Al Washliyah), expresses support and appreciation for Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid, who officially issued the rule banning children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts. “As the Chairman of the PB Al Washliyah, I offer my appreciation and support for this policy; in my view, the policy and its rules are steps to strengthen protection of children in the digital space,” KH Masyhuril said in a written message to Republika on Sunday (8/3/2026). KH Masyhuril emphasised that he is ready to socialise the regulation because the negative impacts of using digital media currently outweigh the benefits. He explained that Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah, popularly abbreviated as Al Washliyah, is an Islamic organisation that was established before Indonesia’s independence, namely on 30 November 1930 in Medan, North Sumatra. As a national-level association covering 35 provinces and more than 250 regencies/cities in Indonesia, with eight overseas chapters, it is ready to socialise the regulation.
He added that limiting accounts on social media platforms by the child’s age should not rely solely on government regulations (PP) or ministerial decrees (Kepmen), but should be reinforced in the form of a Law (UU) on regulating social media content. For example, regulating the use of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Threads, Bigo Live, Roblox, podcasts, including AI (Artificial Intelligence). To regulate social media, he further suggested that the 2002 Law Number 32 on broadcasting, dated 28 December 2002, could be amended.
Therefore, KH Masyhuril urged the DPR Commission I (Komisi I DPR RI) and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs to draft such a law, so its implementation going forward would be stronger. This is intended solely to protect the Indonesian nation from information or broadcasting content that is unhealthy and not valid.