Indonesia began enforcing a comprehensive social media ban for children under 16 on Saturday, making it the first Southeast Asian nation to implement such restrictions following Australia's pioneering legislation in December 2025.
The ban affects eight major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, which Indonesian authorities have classified as high-risk for young users. The measure potentially impacts approximately 70 million children under 16, representing 25% of Indonesia's 280 million population.
Indonesian officials announced the policy earlier this month, citing concerns about online pornography, cyberbullying, internet addiction, and scams targeting young users. The enforcement comes amid growing global scrutiny of social media's impact on youth mental health and safety.
Reiteramos que não há exceções quanto ao cumprimento e que toda a entidade comercial que opere na Indonésia é obrigada a respeitar as leis do país
Meutya Hafid, Communications Minister — RTP Notícias
The implementation is proceeding gradually, with platforms required to detect and deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid indicated that X and Bigo Live have already achieved full compliance with the new regulations, while other platforms are still adjusting their systems.
France 24 presents the ban as a protective measure following global concerns about social media's impact on children. The outlet frames it as part of a broader international trend toward youth digital safety.
Deutsche Welle provides balanced coverage highlighting both supporter and skeptic perspectives. The outlet contextualizes Indonesia's move within broader global scrutiny of tech giants and youth safety concerns.
RTP Notícias focuses on the technical implementation details and government enforcement mechanisms. The outlet emphasizes the gradual rollout and compliance requirements for international platforms operating in Indonesia.
Several platforms have announced specific measures to comply with the ban. Bigo Live has raised its minimum age requirement to 18 and implemented AI-powered moderation systems. Roblox plans to restrict users under 13 to offline gameplay only, while TikTok has committed to gradually deactivating underage accounts.
[Children] need to learn to use this digital technology at the right time, at the right age, and with the right guidance
Diena Haryana, Jakarta-based online safety advocate — Deutsche Welle
The Indonesian government has warned of potential fines for non-compliant platforms and has not ruled out nationwide bans for companies that fail to meet the requirements. Unlike Australia's blanket prohibition, Indonesia may allow some platforms deemed low-risk to continue serving 13-16 year olds with parental consent.
Child safety advocates have welcomed the measure, arguing that social media use can negatively impact young people's mental health and development. However, experts remain skeptical about enforcement effectiveness, warning that tech-savvy children may circumvent restrictions using virtual private networks.
The Indonesian ban follows Australia's groundbreaking legislation, which has already resulted in the deactivation of approximately 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children. Several European countries including Germany, Spain, France and Malaysia are now considering similar measures as global momentum builds around protecting young users from potential online harms.