Puan Maharani Supports Ban on Children Under 16 Years Old Having Social Media Accounts
The Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani has expressed support for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) regulations restricting social media access for children under 16 years of age. Puan views this measure as essential to shield young people from the detrimental effects of social media content.
“Through the relevant parliamentary commissions, the DPR supports what the ministry has already implemented regarding limiting social media for children. Currently, this applies to children aged 16 and above,” Puan Maharani stated at the parliamentary complex in Senayan on Tuesday, 10 March.
Puan highlighted concerns about the current state of freedom on social media, which she described as having reached an alarming level. Without age restrictions and strict oversight, she argued, social media could damage children’s mental and social development. She expressed hope that this restriction policy would not remain limited to age 16, but would be evaluated for other age groups in the future.
Puan noted that Indonesia’s approach aligns with policies already implemented by many countries worldwide restricting social media access for teenagers. “Currently it only applies to age 16, but of course in the future we also hope it can be restricted for other age groups, as other countries have already done,” the PDI Perjuangan politician stated.
The government officially issued Ministerial Regulation Number 9 of 2026 from the Communications and Digital Ministry (Permenkomdigi) as the implementing regulation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on Management of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP TUNAS). This regulation serves as a technical guideline for digital platforms in fulfilling their child protection obligations in digital spaces.
Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid emphasised that the issuance of this regulation represents a concrete step by the state to ensure Indonesian children are protected from various online risks. “Today, the government takes an important step for the future of Indonesian children. Through Ministerial Regulation Number 9 of 2026, derived from PP TUNAS, the government has determined that children under 16 years can no longer have accounts on high-risk digital platforms,” stated the minister on Friday, 6 March.
According to Meutya, Indonesian children currently face serious threats in digital spaces. “Our children face increasingly real threats, such as exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online fraud. The government is here so that parents are no longer fighting alone against the power of algorithms,” she emphasised.
House Speaker Puan Maharani also noted that the country’s approach reflects international best practices in child digital protection. Commission X Chair Hetifah Sjaifudian confirmed that Ministerial Regulation 9/2026 represents a concrete step in child protection in digital spaces.