Indonesia outlines plan to limit children under 16’s access to social media

Indonesia will soon become the latest country to pass laws restricting children’s access to social media, following in the footsteps of Australia and neighboring Malaysia.

But unlike Australia, which has banned users under 16 from social media altogether, Indonesia takes a more age-specific approach to its restrictions.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital said on Friday it would delay children’s access to social media platforms: Children aged 13 or older will be able to use platforms the country deems “lower risk,” while “higher risk” platforms will only be open to users over 16.

Platforms considered “high risk” include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, the country’s Communications and Digital Affairs Minister, Meutia Hafeez, said in a video posted on Instagram.

It is expected that these measures will be implemented one year after they were signed into law on March 28, 2026.

Indonesia is not the only country with age restrictions on social media use. Over the past few months, several countries have announced plans to restrict children and teenagers’ access to social media, including Denmark, Spain, France, Malaysia and the UK.

Indonesia insists that the goal is not to prevent children from using the Internet, but to ensure that they use it safely and at the appropriate age.

“This regulation does not impose sanctions on children or parents. Instead, sanctions target digital platforms that fail to meet their child protection obligations,” Hafeez said. The rule aims to prevent risks “ranging from exposure to harmful content, interaction with unknown individuals, child exploitation, and addiction to digital platforms.”

Nearly 299 million Indonesians are connected to the Internet, and nearly 80% of their children actively use online platforms, the ministry said.

About half of Indonesian children have encountered sexual content on social media platforms, and 42% admitted the experience made them feel afraid or uncomfortable, the government said, referring to UNICEF figures.

The announcement comes a day after Indonesia issued a warning to Meta for not curbing online gambling and misinformation on its platforms.