Indonesia began enforcing a social media ban for children under the age of 16 on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The government implemented the regulation to shield minors from online pornography, cyberbullying, scams and digital addiction.
Indonesia became the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such restrictions. The ban applies to YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Government Sets the Rules
Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister, signed the government regulation earlier in March. She announced the implementation would proceed gradually until all platforms complied with the measure.
“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction. The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms,” Hafid stated.
She added that the government took this step as the best effort in the midst of a digital emergency to reclaim sovereignty over children’s futures.
The regulation affects approximately 70 million children in Indonesia, a country with a population of about 280 million. Government figures show that 48% of Indonesian internet users are minors under 18, and over 80% of Indonesian children spend seven hours online daily.
Platforms Respond
X announced full compliance with the new rules. The platform updated its Indonesia Online Safety Information page to reflect a minimum user age of 16.”It’s not our choice – it’s what Indonesian law requires,” the page stated.
TikTok issued a statement committing to comply with the regulation. “We will continue to engage constructively with The Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry in the self-assessment process, and expect that the regulation will be applied fairly and consistently across all social platforms,” the company said.
Google-owned YouTube expressed support for the government’s effort. “We are ready to engage under the regulation’s self-assessment approach to demonstrate our long-standing safety rigour,” the platform stated.
Bigo Live confirmed full compliance. Roblox informed the government of plans to introduce an offline mode for users under age 13.
Challenges Ahead
Hafid acknowledged that implementing the new regulation would prove difficult. She noted that getting digital platforms to comply and report deactivations of under-16 accounts presented significant challenges.
“This is certainly a task. But we must take steps to save our children,” she said. “It’s not easy. Nevertheless, we must see it through.”She warned that the government holds authority to take enforcement measures, including imposing sanctions on non-compliant platforms.
