Parliamentary Member: Children Must Not Become Objects of Social Media Algorithm Exploitation
Jakarta — Amelia Anggraini, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, has welcomed the regulation restricting social media for children through the issuance of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Regulation No. 9 of 2026.
According to her, the regulation is part of the state’s efforts to protect children in the digital space.
“Children must not become objects of algorithm exploitation, advertising commodities, or targets of digital addiction. Platforms are obligated to present safe design, not merely transfer all risks to parents,” said Amelia in her statement on Monday (9 March 2026).
She stated that this policy should not be interpreted solely as an attempt to restrict digital access for children.
The primary objective of this policy from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is to organise the digital space to make it safer for children’s growth and development.
“For me, this should be understood not merely as closing digital access, but as an effort to organise the digital space to make it safer for children’s growth and development,” said Amelia.
Countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Singapore have already implemented regulations requiring digital platforms to protect minors.
“Many countries are moving in the same direction. They differ in their models, but they share one common thread: protecting children in the digital space cannot be left solely to private matters,” said Amelia.
“Technology must support the education, creativity, and future of Indonesian children, not sacrifice their mental health, safety, and social development,” said Amelia.
It was previously reported that the government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, has issued a new policy regarding social media use for children under 16 years of age.
The regulation is contained in the Ministry of Communication and Digital Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which is derived from Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection.
In the initial phase, eight platforms have restricted access for children: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.