NTT Prepares to Become Pilot Project for Age Restrictions on Social Media Access
The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial government is preparing to become a pilot project for age restrictions on social media access for children. This was affirmed by NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena following the inauguration of 104 high school, vocational school, and special needs school principals in Kupang on Wednesday (25/3/2026).
“When I met Mrs Meutya Hafid in Jakarta yesterday, I told her that we in NTT are ready to implement it. I also reported to Mrs Meutya that NTT is ready to be the pilot project for that programme,” Laka Lena emphasised.
He stated that he does not want this discourse to stop at the central level. Therefore, two departments have been immediately directed to prepare the field implementation scheme.
The Head of the Education and Culture Department and the Communication and Informatics Department of NTT have been assigned to formulate the mechanism for restricting social media access, particularly for students.
“I have asked Mr Ambros, as the Head of the Education Department, and Mr Adi Mandala, as the Head of the Communication and Informatics Department, to formulate that,” he revealed.
This step refers to the direction of the central government’s policy, which is currently preparing regulations on child-friendly social media. Those regulations are being drafted by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs together with the Ministry of Health.
Laka Lena assessed that the policy could be directly implemented in schools, supported by a technology-based monitoring system.
“We will soon operate it in NTT for schools through the scheme being regulated by the Communication and Informatics Department,” he explained.
Previously, the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, stated that her side would issue government regulations regarding child-friendly social media access. Meutya said this has become a focus for President Prabowo Subianto.
This was conveyed by Meutya after meeting Prabowo at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (13/1/2025). Meutya said the meeting with Prabowo also discussed child-friendly social media.
“It was discussed (in the meeting with Prabowo). Yes, later, but one of the topics was how we protect our children in the digital realm. Precisely, we’ll see later, we’ll see what it will be like,” said Meutya, citing detiknews.
Meutya stated that her side has also communicated with the DPR regarding the discourse on forming a Law on age limits for social media access. In line with that, she said, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs will also issue related regulations.
“Actually, this is still later; we want to study it thoroughly first. But in principle, while bridging more solid regulations, the government will first issue government regulations,” she explained.
“Meanwhile, studies related to child protection. For stronger ones that cannot be handled at the ministerial level because they involve the DPR, we will also prepare them,” added this Golkar politician.