Indonesia bans social media for under-16s in major safety move

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Jakarta: Indonesia has introduced a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, aiming to protect young users from online risks including cyberbullying, scams and harmful content.

The new regulation, announced earlier this month and taking effect on Saturday, prohibits minors from creating accounts on major platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, all classified by authorities as high-risk services.

The policy is expected to impact around 70 million children, roughly a quarter of the country’s population. Enforcement, including account deactivation, will be carried out gradually.

Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said some platforms, including X and Bigo Live, have already complied, urging others to align their services with the new rules. She warned that non-compliance could result in fines or even nationwide bans.

The move follows growing global concern over the impact of social media on youth mental health. Supporters, including child safety advocates, say the measure will help reduce exposure to harmful content and encourage healthier offline engagement.

However, some experts have raised concerns about enforcement, noting that children may bypass restrictions using tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs).

Indonesia’s decision follows a similar move by Australia, which became the first country to impose such restrictions. Several other nations, including Germany, France, Spain and Malaysia, are also considering or implementing measures to regulate children’s access to social media.

The announcement comes as US tech companies, including Meta and Google, face increasing legal scrutiny over claims that their platforms contribute to addiction and harm among young users.