Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Backs Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s

Abdul Mu’ti, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, has welcomed the policy of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Kominfo/Komdigi) that restricts social media use for children under 16, as set out in Permenkomdigi No. 9 of 2026 on restricting underage accounts on high-risk digital platforms. “We strongly support and appreciate the issuance of the Permenkomdigi on restrictions on device usage for those under 16,” he said during a gathering with the press at his residence on Saturday, 7 March. He added that the rule is part of cross‑ministry efforts to build good habits so that children can avoid the negative effects of excessive gadget use. However, Mu’ti acknowledged challenges in practical implementation, notably preventing identity manipulation when creating social media accounts. “The challenge lies in the technical execution, especially to ensure that they do not falsify personal identity when creating social media accounts,” he said. He emphasised three key points to make the restrictions effective: first, strict parental supervision at home; second, active involvement of teachers at school; third, education from various parties so that the social media usage restrictions can be effective. While restrictions exist, Mu’ti stressed that the internet and devices still have positive aspects, particularly for education and accessing learning materials from online sources. “This must be supervised to prevent misuse,” he said. He also hopes the programme will help build a culture of more civil social media usage to protect the younger generation from non-educational content. “So that it can have a positive impact in building a culture of more civil social media usage,” Mu’ti concluded.

PP GP Ansor expressed full support for the firm steps by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Kominfo) that ban under-16s from owning social media accounts and from accessing certain digital platforms. Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed the formal implementation of PP Tunas. Under-16s are prohibited from accessing a number of social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Kominfo will remove under-16 social media accounts starting 28 March 2026. Further guidance and a list of platforms and rules are provided in Permen Kominfo No 9 of 2026. The 2026 guidance highlights the legal boundaries, privacy risks, and tips for parental supervision. Unlike WhatsApp and Instagram, TikTok has refused end-to-end encryption (E2EE) citing the safety of minors and law enforcement access.