Jakarta, March 28: In a significant move, Indonesia has implemented a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, affecting approximately 70 million minors in the country. The ban, which took effect on Saturday, follows a similar policy introduced in Australia and aims to address concerns related to online pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.
Information Minister Meutya Hafid announced during a press conference late Friday that digital platforms such as X and Bigo Live have fully complied with the new regulations by adjusting their minimum user age requirements. She emphasized that all digital platforms operating in Indonesia must adhere to the country’s laws without exception.
Meutya stated, “We reiterate that there is no room for negotiation regarding compliance with these regulations.” She urged other digital platforms to immediately align their products, features, and services with the new rules.
In a statement released late Friday, TikTok expressed its commitment to working closely with the ministry to take appropriate measures concerning accounts linked to users under 16 years of age.
This ban comes in the wake of a similar policy enacted in Australia in December, highlighting a growing global concern over the potential harms of social media to children. Recently, a jury in Los Angeles held Meta and YouTube responsible for harming a young woman through their “addictive design,” ordering both companies to pay a total of $6 million in damages.
Additionally, the UK House of Lords voted this week in favor of a social media ban for children, increasing pressure on the government to take similar action.