NTB Provincial Government: Meta's Age Limit Protects Children in Digital Space

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial government has welcomed the implementation of a policy setting a minimum age of 16 for children’s access to Meta’s digital platforms as an effort to protect children in the digital space. “This is not just about restrictions, but about building a healthier and more responsible digital ecosystem,” said the Head of the NTB Communication, Informatics, and Statistics Office, Ahsanul Khalik, in Mataram on Friday. Ahsanul stated that this age limit regulation represents the tangible presence of the state in protecting the younger generation from the risks of an unsafe digital space. According to him, children are a vulnerable group that does not yet have mature digital literacy capacity, whether in filtering information, maintaining privacy, or facing potential exposure to negative content. “This policy also serves as a strong signal that the state is not neglectful of the long-term impacts of uncontrolled technology use,” he said. Based on previous reports, Meta, the owner of Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, has finally complied with the rules to restrict children’s access to their social media platforms in accordance with Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection, or PP Tunas. Initially, the minimum age for Meta users was 13 and above. Now, the Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms in Indonesia can only be accessed by users aged 16 and above, in line with government regulations. Ahsanul conveyed that the implementation of this age limit policy at the local level cannot be merely administrative but must touch on educational and cultural aspects. The role of the family as the frontline defence is also strengthened by village governments by involving religious figures and community leaders in socialisation regarding family self-supervision. According to Ahsanul, the government cannot replace the supervisory function of parents, so educating on the importance of accompanying children in using digital devices through strengthening village governments to involve religious figures and community leaders becomes crucial. “Synergy with district/city governments as well as related stakeholders to conduct massive and sustainable digital campaigns. This is important so that the policy does not just stop at rules but is truly understood and implemented by the community,” he concluded.