Indonesia joins Poland in restricting social media for children under 16

The Indonesian government has officially announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 16, marking a significant shift toward content filters in an effort to reduce the risks of addiction and cyberbullying. The move aims to address growing concerns over mental health, online safety by holding platforms responsible for age verification.

This decision was made due to the negative impact on the mental health of children and young people, who are experiencing significant turmoil regarding their intellectual development.

There are several examples of governments that have imposed curbs on social media for children, as serious concerns are mounting over the impact social media is having on the mental health of minors.

In this connection, Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Communications and Digital statement said that the government will “delay access” to social media accounts for children under 16 through a ministerial regulation issued on Friday.

He further explained that from March 28, accounts owned by children under 16 on “high risk platforms” will be gradually deactivated.

On the other hand, while elaborating on the new requirements, she said that the process will be carried out gradually until all platforms meet their obligations.

“We realize this may cause discomfort in the beginning. Children complain and parents may be confused dealing with their complaints.” he added.

At present, details of the new regulation have yet to be revealed. However, surveys indicate that internet penetration in Indonesia reached 79.5% in 2024, representing a digital population of approximately 221 million people.

The survey details further revealed that 48% of children under 12 have internet access, with many in this age group using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Meanwhile, internet penetration reaches 87% among Gen Z users aged 12 to 27.