Indonesia to restrict social media access for children under 16

Indonesia plans to limit social media access for children under 16, introducing a tiered, age-gated approach to digital platform regulation. Under the framework outlined by the country’s communication and digital ministry, children 13 or older will be able to use platforms deemed lower-risk. Meanwhile, higher-risk platforms will be restricted to users above 16. This regulatory structure distinguishes Indonesia’s approach from other jurisdictions that have pursued outright bans, focusing instead on age-appropriate access.

The measures are expected to be enforced one year after they are signed into regulation, which is scheduled for March 28, 2026. Rather than penalizing individual users, the policy places the compliance burden entirely on the service providers. “This regulation does not impose sanctions on children or parents. Instead, sanctions target digital platforms that fail to meet their child protection obligations,” said Meutya Hafid, the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs. According to Hafid, the rules are designed to prevent risks ranging from “exposure to harmful content and interactions with unknown individuals to child exploitation and addiction to digital platforms.”

The regulatory push comes as Indonesia grapples with a massive, highly active young online population. Approximately 299 million Indonesians are connected to the internet, and nearly 80% of the country’s children actively use online platforms. According to data from UNICEF, an international organization providing child safety data, around half of Indonesian children have encountered sexual content on social media, and 42% of those children felt frightened or uncomfortable after the encounter. By implementing these restrictions, Indonesia joins a growing list of countries enacting or planning social media limitations for minors, including Australia, Malaysia, Denmark, Spain, France, and the U.K.

The policy also follows heightened government scrutiny of major technology firms operating in the country. The announcement of the age-gating plan occurred shortly after the Indonesian government issued a warning to Meta regarding allegations of “not curbing online gambling and disinformation” on its platforms. This warning underscores the government’s broader effort to regulate digital platforms and enforce stricter content moderation standards.

Why it matters

Indonesia’s move highlights a growing global regulatory trend where governments are shifting the burden of child safety from parents to digital platforms through strict age-gating and potential sanctions.