Felixnews.com – Effective March 28, 2026, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital, officially banned children under 16 from having social media accounts. This regulation aims to protect children from negative content and digital addiction, covering platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, Threads, and Roblox.
The Indonesian Government Explains the Reasons for Delaying Social Media Access for Children Under 16
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid with children participating in the Sahabat Tunas Digital Class: Wait for Your Children to Be Ready activity at the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, Jakarta, Monday (March 9, 2026).
The government has suspended social media access for children under 16 as a protective measure against various risks in the digital space, from device addiction to exposure to harmful content.
According to Hafid, the government has received a lot of input from the public regarding the increasing risks of social media use for children. These risks include digital addiction, exposure to negative content, cyberbullying, and online fraud that often targets young users.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid emphasized that this policy is not intended to prohibit children from using technology, but rather to ensure they are mentally and psychologically prepared before entering the complex social media space.
“The most appropriate age to start accessing social media is considered to be around 16 years old. This is not a unilateral government decision, but the result of extensive discussions with psychologists, child development experts, and various studies on the impact of social media on child development,” said Meutya during the Sahabat Tunas Digital Class: Wait for Your Child to Be Ready event at the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub in Jakarta on Monday (March 9, 2026).
Here are the main details of the social media ban policy:
- Legal Basis: This policy refers to Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which is a derivative of Government Regulation (PP) Tunas/PP No. 17 of 2025 concerning Child Protection in the Digital Space.
- Objective: Protect 70 million children in Indonesia from the risks of pornographic content, cyberbullying, online fraud, and internet addiction.
- Restricted Platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), Threads, Bigo Live, and the game Roblox.
- Implementation: Digital platforms are required to verify the age of users and deactivate violating accounts in stages starting Saturday, March 28, 2026.
- Consequences: Platforms that do not comply face administrative sanctions and service restrictions.