Indonesia to ban social media for children under 16, communication minister announces

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• Indonesia to restrict social media for under-16s from March 2026
• TikTok, YouTube, and Roblox accounts to be deactivated
• Policy aims to protect children from online risks and addiction

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Indonesia has announced plans to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16, joining a growing global push to curb the risks young users face online.

Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said the government would begin shutting down accounts belonging to underage users on several platforms considered high risk. The decision is aimed at protecting children from online pornography, cyberbullying, internet scams and addiction to digital platforms, AFP reported.

“Accounts belonging to children under 16 on high-risk platforms will start to be deactivated, beginning with YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox," Hafid said in a statement.

According to the minister, the policy will come into force on March 28, 2026. The restrictions will be introduced gradually as the government works with technology companies to ensure compliance with the new rules.

She said the phased implementation would help authorities coordinate with digital platforms while strengthening protections for young users.

“The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of the algorithm," Hafid said, acknowledging that the policy could cause “some initial inconvenience" for users.

Hafid described the move as a response to what she called a growing “digital emergency."

“We are taking this step to reclaim the sovereignty of our children’s future. We want technology to humanise humans, not sacrifice our children’s childhood," she said.

Indonesia’s announcement comes after Australia introduced similar restrictions last year. In December, the country became the first in the world to formally ban children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the measure as a world-first initiative designed to safeguard young people online. He said Australia was sending a clear signal that “enough is enough" when it comes to the negative effects of social media on children.

Under Australia’s law, platforms must remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or risk significant financial penalties. As the rules took effect, many teenagers across the country lost access to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social media services.

Other regions are also considering similar safeguards. The European Union has set up an expert group to examine the possibility of introducing comparable restrictions across member states. Several countries including France, Denmark, Greece and Spain have also advocated stronger protections for children on the internet.