Indonesia has implemented a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16. The move follows Australia's move in December 2025, making it one of the first Asian countries to introduce such controls as other countries are still trying to tighten up on harmful content online.
The ban came into effect on March 28, citing the growing threat of online pornography and internet addiction among children.
It is understood that the new rules are not an outright ban on all children's accounts. Instead, they target high-risk platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Roblox, which are required to block users under the age of 16, including deleting or closing their accounts.
Meanwhile, services considered low-risk can still be used but require stricter protections such as parental controls and limits on location tracking and data collection. However, the authorities did not list in detail the light-weight applications or services in question.
In response to the new rules, several platforms including X, Bigo Live, TikTok and Roblox have reportedly started to comply by adjusting their minimum age limits for users. Meta has expressed support for effective implementation and will continue to consult with authorities.
Meanwhile, YouTube Indonesia has also stressed its support for a risk-based approach rather than an outright ban as a measure to balance the safety of young users with access to appropriate content.
Indonesia has stressed that there will be no compromise on compliance with the new rules. All platforms operating in the country are required to comply with the law. Those who fail to do so may be subject to sanctions including usage restrictions and are required to conduct child safety assessments by June at the latest.
