Social media regulation for children and the vital role of families

In the digital age, children have become the group most rapidly adapting to technology, yet simultaneously face the greatest vulnerability to various cyber risks.

The digital world presents new challenges for child protection efforts, ranging from device addiction to exposure to age-inappropriate content. Consequently, the government’s move to restrict social media access for children under 16 years of age merits appreciation as part of the state’s commitment to ensuring a safer digital space for the younger generation.

Through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), the government will begin implementing a policy restricting social media access for children under 16 years old from 28 March 2026. The policy is reinforced by the issuance of Ministerial Regulation on Communication and Digital Affairs Number 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation for Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Management of Electronic Systems Governance in Child Protection (PP TUNAS).

The Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, announced that in the initial implementation phase, the government will deactivate accounts identified as belonging to users under 16 years old on several digital platforms. Platforms included in this category include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Instagram, X, Bigo Live, and the online gaming platform Roblox.

This policy emerges amid increasingly high-intensity internet usage by children. A 2025 survey by the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII) showed that internet penetration in Indonesia has reached 80.66 per cent, or 229.4 million people, covering more than 78 per cent of the population, with adolescents being among the most active user groups.

Meanwhile, a UNICEF report also notes that children in various countries now spend hours daily in digital spaces, which is not always safe for their psychological and social development.

These facts demonstrate that digital space has become an inseparable part of children’s lives. However, without adequate protection, digital space can also become an arena full of risks.

Therefore, the government’s policy to restrict social media access for children is an important and strategic step. State regulation can function as an initial safeguard to reduce the risk of harmful content exposure, digital exploitation, and various forms of cyberbullying.

However, experience with various public policies shows that regulation alone is often insufficient. Good policies frequently face implementation challenges, whether due to limited oversight, technical gaps in digital systems, or low public awareness.

In the context of child protection, these challenges become increasingly complex. The digital world knows no boundaries of space and time. Children can access various platforms from anywhere, even through devices belonging to friends or those in their immediate environment.

Therefore, protecting children in digital spaces cannot rely on state regulation alone. A broader approach is needed through the involvement of families and communities as part of the child protection ecosystem.

Within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the family represents the first and primary environment for child development. The state has an obligation to provide protection systems, but parents remain central to the nurturing process.

This is where parenting patterns play a highly decisive role. Restricting social media access for children is not simply a matter of blocking accounts or closing applications. Far more important is building digital literacy within families.

Children need to understand why restrictions are implemented, what risks exist in digital spaces, and how to use technology wisely and responsibly. A dialogical and warm parenting approach will prove far more effective than one consisting solely of prohibitions. Children who understand the reasoning behind a rule tend to have better self-control abilities compared to children who are simply forced to comply.

Beyond families, communities also play an important role in building a child protection ecosystem in digital spaces. Schools, community organisations, religious leaders, and local communities can become part of a collective movement to strengthen child-friendly digital literacy.

This ecosystem approach is important because child protection cannot be carried out in isolation. When the social environment shares the same awareness, efforts to protect children become far more effective.

Ultimately, the policy restricting social media access for children under 16 years old represents a very strategic initial step. However, the success of this policy is not determined solely by technological sophistication or regulatory strictness.

Its success will greatly depend on the extent to which families, schools, and communities take on active roles. Because ultimately, child protection in the digital age is not merely about closing access to social media, but also about opening a space for wiser, more conscious, and more responsible parenting. Without all of this, even the strongest regulation will merely be a fence easily jumped over by the current of the digital world.

*Fakih Usman is a government employee at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. This article represents personal opinion.