Countries Worldwide Adopt Indonesia's Social Media Restrictions for Minors
Jakarta — Multiple countries have announced and begun implementing restrictions on social media usage for minors, with Indonesia recently joining Australia in enforcing such rules.
Indonesia’s government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, launched Ministerial Regulation Number 9 of 2026 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection last week. This regulation derives from Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 (PP Tunas), which was announced in March 2025.
The ministerial regulation will require deactivation of accounts for children under 16 years of age on high-risk digital platforms beginning 28 March 2026. The initial phase covers YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter), Bigo Live and Roblox.
Australia became the first country to formally enforce a strict ban on social media use for under-16s in December 2025. The Australian government mandated that platforms implement verification methods to confirm users are not below the age of 16.
Several other governments have announced plans for similar regulations:
Denmark announced support in November 2025 for a ban on children under 15 from three ruling coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament. The country plans to launch the restrictions by mid-2026, and its digital ministry has already released digital proof applications including age verification tools.
France’s parliament approved a draft ban in January, with President Emmanuel Macron supporting the measure as child protection against excessive screen use. The proposal must still pass the senate before a final parliamentary vote.
Germany’s conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed proposals to ban social media use for under-16s in early February, though left-centre coalition partners have expressed hesitation.
Greece is expected to announce a ban on social media use for children under 15 shortly. Malaysia announced plans in November to impose a similar restriction for under-16s, with implementation planned for 2026.
Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister indicated the government is drafting legislation to ban social media access for those aged 15 and below, with government regulation of social networks where content is shared.
Spain plans to ban social media access for children under 16, though the restriction still requires parliamentary approval. The United Kingdom is also considering a ban for under-16s, with the government planning consultations involving parents, youth and civil society organisations.