Indonesia Begins Implementing Social Media Restrictions for Children, First in ASEAN
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia began enforcing restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16 years old on Saturday (28/3/2026), becoming the first country in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) to implement such a national policy, amid global steps to limit harmful online content.
The policy is inspired by strict regulations in Australia, representing one of the most aggressive efforts to regulate children’s use of digital platforms in the world’s fourth most populous country.
Quoting Bloomberg on Sunday (29/3/2026), concerns are rising regarding cyberbullying, pornography, online scams, and excessive screen time in Indonesia, where social media has become an inseparable part of daily life and around 70 million residents are under 16 years old.
The new rules do not entirely ban children from having accounts. However, high-risk platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and the gaming platform Roblox are required to prevent access for users under 16, including by deleting or deactivating accounts.
Platforms like X, Bigo Live, TikTok, and Roblox have made or announced adjustments to comply with the new policy by Friday night, according to a statement from the Minister of Communications and Digital, Meutya Hafid.
TikTok plans to gradually deactivate accounts for users under 16, while Roblox is adjusting features for users under 13.
X stated it will raise the minimum age limit to 16, while Roblox also plans to add content and communication controls for players under that age in Indonesia.
YouTube Indonesia stated that it aligns with a risk-based regulatory approach rather than a blanket ban.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc. stated it supports the implementation of rules that are “executable” and will continue to discuss with the government regarding Facebook and Instagram. The company also noted that it has placed tens of millions of Indonesian teenagers in “teen accounts” with lower risks in accordance with regulations.
A UN-supported study in 2023 found that around half of children in Indonesia have seen sexual images on social media, and nearly half have experienced online bullying, figures often cited as the basis for tightening regulations.
The Minister of Communications and Digital (Komdigi), Meutya Hafid, said all digital platforms operating in Indonesia must meet these new standards.
“Protecting children is a shared responsibility, and compliance is a primary requirement for operating in Indonesia’s digital ecosystem,” she said.