High Public Support: 77.4 Per Cent of Population Agrees with Social Media Restrictions for Children

There is significant public support for the policy to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16, reflecting an increasing awareness of the dangers present in digital spaces. According to a recent survey by Poltracking Indonesia, 77.4 per cent of the population agrees with the proposed restrictions.

Telecommunications observer and Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute, Heru Sutadi, stated that these figures reflect the collective anxiety of parents and society regarding various online threats. “The high level of public support indicates growing concern over the negative impacts of social media on children, ranging from exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and digital addiction to the threat of online exploitation,” Heru said in Jakarta on Friday.

Heru explained that internal data from the ICT Institute shows an even higher figure, with 80 per cent of the public agreeing that the current digital space is not always safe for children. The rise in cases of cyber violence, fraud, and mental health issues has been a primary driver for public pressure on the government to implement stricter policy interventions.

However, Heru, who also serves as the President of Asia Digital Connectivity and Society for the 2026-2031 period, warned that age-restriction regulations are merely the first step. He noted that technical challenges on the ground remain substantial. According to Heru, the effectiveness of this policy depends heavily on the compliance of digital platforms and consistent supervision. He emphasised that child protection cannot rely on regulation alone but must involve a comprehensive approach, including strengthening digital literacy, active parental supervision, and the responsibility of platform providers to create a safe ecosystem.

Previously, the Lead Researcher at Poltracking Indonesia, Masduri Amrawati, presented the results of a survey titled “Evaluation of Government Performance and Strategic Actual Issues.” The data shows that the majority of the public fully supports the implementation of PP Tunas, which regulates social media restrictions for children. With support exceeding three-quarters of the population, the government is expected to finalise technical mechanisms to ensure that the protection of children under 16 in the digital space can function optimally without loopholes for age manipulation.

Furthermore, the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) noted that approximately 112 students across 26 provinces have been exposed to radical ideologies through social media and online games, with an average age of 13. Psychologist Sani B. Hermawan also supports PP Tunas (Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025) as an emergency measure to protect children under 16 from digital crimes, suggesting that children under 16 should collaborate via parental accounts to comply with the regulation and maintain digital safety.