Trending Now - Indonesia Joins Global Trend to Restrict Social Media for Minors

WHO:

Meutya Hafid, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister of Indonesia

Residents and parents in Jakarta, including Marianah (43) and Harianto (49)

Meta Platforms, Inc. (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp)

TikTok

WHAT:

Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16 years old.

The ban includes high-risk digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

The government regulation was signed by Meutya Hafid.

The implementation of the ban will start gradually from March 28, 2026.

Indonesia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to restrict children's access to social media.

Australia issued a similar ban in December 2025, resulting in the revocation of about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children.

WHERE:

Jakarta, Indonesia

Southeast Asia

WHEN:

The regulation was signed on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Implementation of the ban will begin on March 28, 2026.

Australia’s ban began in December 2025.

WHY:

The ban aims to protect children from threats such as exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and addiction.

The government is responding to a "digital emergency" to reclaim sovereignty over children’s futures.

Residents expressed concerns about minors having too much freedom on social media and the need for better regulation.

HOW:

The government regulation prohibits children under 16 from having accounts on specified digital platforms.

A surprise inspection of Meta Platforms’ Jakarta office was conducted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs to address concerns about harmful content.

Indonesia has announced a ban on social media for children under 16 years old, a regulation signed by Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid, which will take effect gradually starting March 28, 2026. This ban covers high-risk platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and aims to protect children from threats such as cyberbullying and online addiction, responding to concerns from residents in Jakarta about minors having too much freedom online. Indonesia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to implement such a restriction, following a similar ban in Australia that led to the removal of approximately 4.7 million accounts belonging to children.