Indonesia to ban social media for children under 16

Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16, starting March 28th, according to a government regulation signed by the communication and digital affairs minister. The ban will apply to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Roblox, and Bigo Live. The government cites concerns about children's exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and addiction as the reasons for the ban. The ministry conducted an inspection of Meta Platforms' Jakarta office over concerns about harmful content. While some residents and parents welcome the restrictions, others suggest the government should also block other harmful websites like pornography and online gambling sites.

Indonesia will begin restricting access to "high-risk" social media platforms for users under 16, starting March 28. The regulation, announced by Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid, aims to protect children from online threats such as pornography, cyberbullying, fraud, and addiction. Platforms affected include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. The government has not yet detailed the full compliance mechanics. This initiative builds upon President Prabowo Subianto's broader child online safety framework launched last year to strengthen digital protections for minors.

Indonesia will ban social media and other online platforms for users under 16, starting March 28, to protect young people from online abuse. The ban, announced by the communications minister, will initially target platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. The government cites concerns about exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, and addiction as reasons for the restrictions. While some parents support the move, believing it will ease their worries, others, including teenagers, suggest alternative approaches like providing engaging, age-appropriate content. A UNICEF report indicated that many Indonesian children have been exposed to sexual images on social media.

Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16, according to Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid. The new government regulation, signed Friday, prohibits children under 16 from having accounts on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Roblox. Implementation will begin gradually on March 28, requiring platforms to comply with the new regulations. The government cites concerns about children's exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and addiction as the primary reasons for the ban. This action follows a recent inspection of Meta Platforms' Jakarta office, where the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs expressed concerns about the handling of harmful content and issued a warning regarding compliance with national regulations.