Under-16s on Social Media: The Complete Guide 2026

Ministry of Communications and Digital, or Komdigi, has tightened rules for children under 16 who hold social media accounts on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Social media is no longer merely a playground; it is a complex ecosystem requiring closer legal and technical oversight.

The shift of the age limit from 13 to 16 is driven by two main factors: cognitive maturity and the protection of sensitive data. At under 16, adolescents are still in the development stage of the prefrontal cortex, crucial for decision-making. Legally, data of children under 16 is now classified as ‘Sensitive Data’ that requires explicit parental or guardian consent to be processed by AI algorithms.

In 2026, major platforms such as Meta (Instagram, WhatsApp), TikTok, and X must comply with the following strict rules:

• Can a 13-year-old still have a TikTok account? Yes, but their account will enter ‘Restricted by Default’ mode in 2026. They cannot receive messages from strangers without parental consent.

• What is the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ for a child? It is the legal right whereby a child who has reached the age of 16 can request the platform to delete all traces of their childhood data that had been uploaded previously.

Social media under 16 without supervision risks triggering body image disturbances due to overly perfect AI filters. Therefore, the latest rules emphasise Digital Wellbeing, whereby apps will automatically lock after 60 minutes of use for teenage users.