Indonesia to ban under-16s from social media platforms

Indonesia will ban children under 16 from opening accounts on a range of "high-risk" social media platforms, in a move the government says is designed to protect children from online abuse. 

Communications and digital affairs minister Meutya Hafid named Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Bigo Live and Roblox among those affected.

"Our children are facing increasingly real threats – ranging from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online scams, to addiction, which is the most significant concern," Hafid said.

She added that the government is stepping in so parents are not left to battle “the giants of algorithm-driven platforms” alone.

The policy, which comes into effect on 28 March, would make Indonesia "the first non-Western country to delay children's access to digital spaces according to age," Hafid added.

The move places Indonesia among a growing number of governments attempting to limit minors’ access to social media.

Australia became the first country to require platforms to block users under 16 from opening accounts last year, a policy now being closely watched by governments worldwide. Following Australia’s move, Spain has announced similar plans, while France passed a ban for under-15s in January, with enforcement expected ahead of the 2026 school year.

In the United States, age verification laws are now on the books in roughly half of all states, with nearly 20 child safety bills currently working their way through Congress.

The UK has also launched a three-month public consultation on whether to introduce similar restrictions, closing on 26 May.

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