Emmanuel Macron Thanks Indonesia for Limiting Social Media for Under-16s

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - French President Emmanuel Macron has thanked the Indonesian government for plans to restrict social media for children under 16. “Thank you for joining the movement,” Macron tweeted from his official X account, @EmmanuelMacron, on Friday, 6 March 2026.

The move to ban social media for children has already been implemented by Macron’s government in France. If enacted, France could become the first European country to implement such restrictions. Several other European countries are also preparing similar steps. However, many remain sceptical about the decision.

The government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital (Kemkomdigi), will soon ban the use of high-risk social media accounts for children under 16. “From 28 March 2026, implementation will be phased in, starting with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox,” said Meutya Hafid, the Minister for Communications and Digital, in a press statement on Friday, 6 March 2026. “Under Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026, derived from PP TUNAS, the government states that children under 16 will no longer be able to hold accounts on high-risk digital platforms,” said Meutya. Meutya noted that eight major digital platforms, from YouTube and TikTok to Roblox, will no longer be accessible to children under 16.