Indonesia to restrict social media access for children under 16, minister says Indonesia’s communications and digital ministry announced on Friday that it will restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, marking the latest effort by a country to implement online safeguards against risks such as addiction and cyberbullying. The measure, set to take effect starting March 28, will involve the gradual deactivation of accounts owned by minors on “high risk platforms,” including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox. The decision follows similar actions by other nations, including Australia, which banned social media access for users under 16 in December 2025, and Spain, which announced in January 2026 that it would impose similar restrictions. Indonesia’s neighbor, Malaysia, also announced in November 2025 that it would ban social media for minors under 16 beginning in 2026. Meutya, the head of Indonesia’s communications and digital ministry, emphasized that the process would be gradual, allowing platforms time to comply with the new requirements. She acknowledged potential challenges, noting that children and parents may initially face confusion or discomfort. “Our children are facing risks, from porn, cyberbullying, online fraud to most importantly, addiction,” she said, adding that Indonesia will be the first non-Western country to enforce such restrictions. The ministry did not immediately disclose the full details of the regulation or specify the exact steps platforms must take to meet the requirements. Representatives from TikTok, Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), and Roblox have not yet responded to requests for comment. Internet penetration in Indonesia, a country with a population of approximately 280 million, reached 79.#tiktok #indonesia #communications_and_digital_ministry #meutya #meta
