Indonesia to Block Social Media for Under 16s
Last update: March 6, 2026
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Government says move aims to protect minors from online pornography, cyberbullying, fraud and internet addiction.
Indonesia announced on Friday that it will ban social media access for children under the age of 16, citing growing concerns about online pornography, cyberbullying, internet scams and digital addiction.
Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said accounts belonging to children under 16 on high risk platforms will begin to be deactivated.
Accounts on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox will be among the first affected, according to a government statement.
“The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of the algorithm. Implementation will begin on March 28, 2026,” Hafid said.
The government said the ban will be introduced gradually until all platforms comply with the new regulations.
TikTok Indonesia and Google Indonesia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Indonesia’s move comes as governments around the world debate tighter rules on social media use by minors.
An expert group set up by the European Union began work this week on a similar proposal aimed at restricting children’s access to social media.
The discussions follow Australia’s decision in December to require platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16.
European officials are closely monitoring the effectiveness of the Australian policy, which has already faced legal challenges.
Several EU countries including France, Denmark, Greece and Spain have been pushing for similar restrictions at the European level, while India has also been considering a possible social media ban for teenagers.
Hafid acknowledged that the regulation could initially cause inconvenience for users in Indonesia but said the government believes the measure is necessary.
