Indonesia to restrict social media access for children under 16, deactivate accounts on March 28

Indonesia will begin restricting access to social media for children under the age of 16, marking one of the most significant digital safety interventions in Southeast Asia as governments worldwide tighten guardrails around young users.

Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Ministry said the policy will begin rolling out on March 28, 2026, with authorities gradually deactivating accounts belonging to users under 16 on what officials describe as “high-risk platforms.”

The move comes amid rising global concern about the impact of social media on children, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online scams and addiction.

Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the regulation is designed to give parents greater support in protecting children online.

“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats, from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction,” Hafid said in a video statement. “The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms.”

Under the policy, accounts owned by children under 16 on major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, Roblox and YouTube will begin to be deactivated in phases. Authorities said the process will continue until digital platforms comply with new child-protection requirements.

Officials acknowledged the change could initially cause disruption for families and young users. “We realise this may cause discomfort in the beginning. Children may complain and parents may be confused dealing with their complaints,” Hafid said, adding that the measure was necessary to respond to what she described as a “digital emergency.”

The restriction will first be implemented through ministerial guidelines while the government prepares legislation that will formally establish a minimum age requirement for social media users.

Growing global push to limit children’s social media use

Indonesia’s under -16 social media ban decision reflects a broader shift toward tighter regulation of online platforms and stronger protections for minors.

Several countries have recently introduced or proposed similar restrictions. Australia implemented a rule in December requiring platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under 16. Spain and Malaysia have also announced plans to limit social media access for minors under the same age threshold.

Across Europe, policymakers are debating regional rules that could restrict social media access for children, with countries including France, Denmark and Greece advocating stronger safeguards.

India is also examining possible regulatory approaches aimed at protecting teenagers from the risks associated with social networking platforms.

Rising internet use among children

The policy comes as internet usage among young Indonesians continues to rise sharply. Internet penetration in the country reached 79.5% in 2024, according to a survey by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association covering 8,700 respondents. Among Gen Z users aged 12 to 27, penetration stood at 87%.

The survey also found that 48% of children under 12 already have internet access, with many actively using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Authorities say the new restrictions are intended to address the growing exposure of children to digital risks as access expands.

Debate over effectiveness

While the policy reflects growing concern over children’s online safety, experts have cautioned that age restrictions alone may not fully address the structural challenges of the digital ecosystem.

Analysts note that enforcement will depend heavily on platform compliance, age-verification systems and stronger accountability mechanisms around algorithmic content distribution and digital privacy. 

For now, Indonesia’s government says the priority is to act quickly. “We are taking this step to reclaim the sovereignty of our children’s future,” Hafid said. “We want technology to humanise humans, not sacrifice our children’s childhood.”