Following PP Tunas, Meta Begins Deleting Accounts of Users Under 16

Social media platforms under Meta, namely Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, have raised the minimum user age to 16 years. This was announced by Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid during a press conference on Thursday (9 April 2026). According to Meutya, this policy is seen as compliance with Indonesia’s digital child protection regulations, particularly Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 or PP Tunas. Meutya also stated that Meta will begin deleting accounts belonging to users under 16 years old. This change demonstrates the company’s good faith in aligning its services and features with national legal provisions. “The next stage is, of course, deactivating accounts under 16 years old. This is the commitment statement we have received; in our oversight, we will need time because they have just changed (community guidelines) today, and tomorrow (10 April),” said Meutya, quoted by KompasTekno from KompasTV. Meutya added that, as a commitment statement, the account deletions will be carried out gradually. Meutya explained that the policy change has been officially incorporated into the community guidelines on all Meta platforms. Thus, the minimum age rule of 16 years now applies across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. According to Meutya, this policy represents the company’s commitment to supporting user protection, especially for children and adolescents, in the national digital space. As is known, the government requires digital platforms to comply with digital child protection regulations by no later than 28 March 2026. This rule is outlined in PP Tunas, which stipulates that users of high-risk digital platforms must be at least 16 years old. Previously, several digital platforms set the minimum user age at 13 years. Meutya also emphasised that the Ministry of Communications and Digital will continue to monitor other digital platforms to ensure they adjust their services in line with applicable regulations. The government assesses that compliance with rules is not merely about technical constraints but about the willingness of each company. “Technical issues are actually not a constraint. This is a matter of willingness, a matter of intent from major platforms to comply with laws in Indonesia,” Meutya stressed. On the same occasion, the government also issued notes to Google regarding YouTube services, which are deemed not yet fully meeting operational obligations as an Electronic System Operator (PSE). Moving forward, the government requires all digital platforms to promptly report the results of their independent risk profile assessments within a three-month period. This step is part of efforts to ensure that all electronic system operators comply with applicable provisions, particularly in protecting children in the digital space. Through this policy, the government reiterates that technical constraints cannot be used as an excuse by digital companies to neglect their legal obligations in Indonesia, especially in fulfilling the PP Tunas mandate on child protection in the digital realm.