Indonesia has joined the list of countries who have banned social media for children under 16. The announcement was made by the country’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister, Meutya Hafid, on Friday.
Hafid in a statement to media said she just signed a government regulation that will mean children under the age of 16 can no longer have accounts on high-risk digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Australia was the first nation who banned social media access to teenagers last year. Several other countries, including Malaysia, France and Spain, are either enacting or proposing similar bans or strict age-verification measures for minors.
“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 said.
“We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children's complaints,” Hafid added.
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