Indonesia outlines plan to limit under-16s' access to social media | TechCrunch

"Indonesia's communication and digital ministry said on Friday that it would delay children's access to social media platforms: Children 13 or older will be able to use platforms the country deems "lower-risk," while "higher-risk" platforms will be only open to users above 16 years old. Platforms deemed "higher-risk" include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox."

"This regulation does not impose sanctions on children or parents. Instead, sanctions target digital platforms that fail to meet their child protection obligations. The rule is meant to prevent risks "ranging from exposure to harmful content and interactions with unknown individuals to child exploitation and addiction to digital platforms.""

"Indonesia maintains the goal is not to stop children from using the internet, but to make sure they use it safely and at the right age. The measures are expected to be enforced one year after they're signed into regulation on March 28, 2026."

Indonesia's communication and digital ministry announced tiered age restrictions for social media access, differing from Australia's blanket ban under 16. Children 13 and older can access lower-risk platforms, while higher-risk platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X require users to be 16 or older. Enforcement begins March 28, 2026, one year after regulation signing. Sanctions target platforms failing child protection obligations rather than penalizing children or parents. The regulation aims to protect children from harmful content, unknown interactions, exploitation, and addiction. Indonesia joins multiple countries including Denmark, Spain, France, Malaysia, and the U.K. in implementing age restrictions. With 299 million internet users and nearly 80% of children actively using online platforms, the government cites UNICEF data showing approximately half of Indonesian children have encountered harmful online content.

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