PP Tunas: A New Chapter in Child Protection in the Digital Space Through Social Media Restrictions
Jakarta — The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) regards Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Management in Child Protection, or PP Tunas, as a new chapter in strengthening child protection in the digital space.
Imran Pambudi, Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at Kemenkes, said the regulation imposing social media restrictions for children provides a stronger legal framework for electronic system operators (PSE). Digital platforms are now required to place child protection as a priority in product design and features.
Imran added that the regulation is urgently needed given widespread use of social media by children and teenagers. Without strict supervision and regulation, digital activity risks addictive behaviours, disturbances to sleep patterns, and serious mental health issues.
‘Protection of children in the digital world is not enough with restrictions alone, but also requires more ethical platform design, improved digital literacy for both children and parents, and easier access to mental health support,’ Imran said in Jakarta on Friday, 6 March 2026.
Data from Menur Psychiatric Hospital, Surabaya, support the urgency. There has been an uptick in cases of exposure to pornography and online game addiction among those under 18 in recent years, signalling a strong need for more systematic preventive measures in the digital space.
As the technical implementation of PP Tunas, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (Komdigi) has issued Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026. The regulation sets strict limits for high-risk digital platforms.
Under the regulation, children under 16 are prohibited from holding accounts on high-risk platforms. Consequently, accounts of children under 16 will be deactivated on these platforms.
PP Tunas opens space for parents to exercise greater control in monitoring their children’s digital activity, ensuring technology continues to provide benefits without disregarding safety.
The government hopes collaboration between schools, parents, and digital service providers can create a healthier internet ecosystem for Indonesia’s younger generation in the years ahead.
Komdigi will delete social media accounts of children under 16 from 28 March 2026. See the steps, list of platforms, and the rules of Ministerial Regulation No 9 of 2026 here.
Komdigi states through PP Tunas that children under 16 are officially prohibited from having accounts on high-risk digital platforms such as social media.
Age-based social media restrictions can be positioned as an initial shock therapy to raise collective awareness of the importance of protecting children in the digital space.
Nineteen people were killed and dozens injured in protests against corruption and the ban on social media.