Regions Capable of Restricting Children's Social Media Access to Receive Incentives
Interior Minister Tito Karnavian announced that his ministry is preparing incentive funds for regional governments capable of implementing regulations restricting access to social media for children under 16 years old. “The Interior Ministry is preparing a budget, and we can also provide regional incentives,” said Tito following a coordination meeting on Government Regulation “Waiting for Children to be Ready” (PP Tunas) at the Communications and Digital Ministry office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
Beyond incentives, Tito stated that the central government would also prepare certificates for regional governments successfully implementing the regulation. “We will discuss the technical details with the Digital Communications Minister regarding which, for example, the top 10 regions should receive awards,” he said.
Tito said the provision of such incentives and awards is expected to spur other regions to implement the regulation more effectively, encouraging each region to compete in implementing it properly.
During the closed coordination meeting between ministries and agencies, Tito said the Interior Ministry proposed establishing a “regional child protection index” measuring protection from harmful or negative impacts of electronic systems. “This will automatically make regions compete. They certainly do not want to be in the bottom position. If in the bottom position, their electability will drop,” said Tito.
Digital Communications Minister Meutya Hafid stated that the coordination meeting decided on Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025, signed by President Prabowo Subianto on 28 March 2025, for immediate implementation. “That means there are 17 days remaining,” she said.
Meutya acknowledged challenges in implementing the regulation. She noted that active social media users among children in Indonesia reached 70 million, compared to 5.7 million in Australia.
When asked whether social media platforms were prepared for this regulation, Meutya did not provide an answer. After the coordination meeting and press conference, no question-and-answer session was offered to media, and the ministers immediately left the room.
The coordination meeting on implementing PP Tunas was conducted in closed session. Ministers present included Digital Communications Minister Meutya Hafid, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti, Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauziah, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Population and Family Development Wihaji, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.