Indonesia will quickly turn out to be the newest nation to move legal guidelines proscribing kids from accessing social media, following within the footsteps of Australia and its neighbor Malaysia.
However in contrast to Australia, which has banned customers below 16 from social media altogether, Indonesia is taking a extra age-gated method to its restrictions.
Indonesia’s communication and digital ministry said on Friday that it might delay kids’s entry to social media platforms: Kids 13 or older will be capable of use platforms the nation deems “lower-risk,” whereas “higher-risk” platforms will probably be solely open to customers above 16 years previous.
Platforms deemed “higher-risk” embody YouTube, TikTok, Fb, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Reside and Roblox, the nation’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said in a video posted to Instagram.
The measures are anticipated to be enforced one 12 months after they’re signed into regulation on March 28, 2026.
Indonesia is just not the one nation passing age restrictions for social media use. Over the previous few months, a number of international locations have introduced plans to limit social media entry for kids and youths, together with Denmark, Spain, France, Malaysia and the U.Okay.
Indonesia maintains the purpose is to not cease kids from utilizing the web, however to ensure they use it safely and on the proper age.
Techcrunch occasion
San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026
“This regulation doesn’t impose sanctions on kids or mother and father. As a substitute, sanctions goal digital platforms that fail to satisfy their youngster safety obligations,” Hafid stated. The rule is supposed to forestall dangers “starting from publicity to dangerous content material and interactions with unknown people to youngster exploitation and habit to digital platforms.”
Roughly 299 million Indonesians are related to the web, and practically 80% of its kids actively use on-line platforms, the ministry stated.
The federal government, referencing UNICEF figures, stated round half of Indonesia’s kids have encountered sexual content material on social media platforms, and 42% have admitted the expertise made them really feel frightened or uncomfortable.
The announcement comes a day after Indonesia issued a warning to Meta for not curbing on-line playing and disinformation on its platforms.
