Indonesia bans social media for under-16s in landmark child safety move
Indonesia has officially banned social media use for children under the age of 16, marking a significant shift in how the country approaches digital safety for its younger population.
The regulation, known as Tata Kelola untuk Anak Aman dan Sehat Digital (Tunas), or PP Tunas, introduces a phased deactivation of underage accounts on platforms considered high-risk. With this move, Indonesia becomes the first non-Western nation to enforce such a restriction at a national level.
Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid described the policy as part of a broader commitment to digital sovereignty and child protection. The rollout follows a one-year transition period after the regulation was signed by President Prabowo Subianto.
During this period, electronic system operators (PSEs) were required to align with the new rules, including submitting compliance commitments and implementation plans.
“Compliance remains dynamic,” Meutya said during a press conference. “What we are seeing reflects the current status, and we continue to monitor developments closely.”
As of Friday evening, platforms such as X and Bigo Live have fully complied with the regulation. X has raised its minimum age requirement to 16 while updating its community guidelines, while Bigo Live has set its access to 18 and above, supported by a combination of artificial intelligence tools and human moderation.
Other platforms, including Roblox and TikTok, are currently assessed as partially compliant. Roblox has proposed restricting users under 13 to offline use, while TikTok has committed to gradually deactivating accounts belonging to users below 16. A detailed operational roadmap for users aged 14 to 15 is expected.
Despite varying levels of readiness, the government has made its position clear: compliance is not optional.
“Every business entity operating in Indonesia must comply with national regulations,” Meutya emphasised, underlining that enforcement will apply across all platforms without exception.
Addressing comparisons with countries such as Australia, she noted that child protection should not differ across borders.
“Children in Indonesia deserve the same level of protection as children anywhere else. Standards should be consistent,” she said.
Beyond access restrictions, the policy also focuses on safeguarding children’s personal data, which remains highly exposed in today’s digital ecosystem and often subject to commercial exploitation.
The implementation of PP Tunas will take place in stages, beginning with major platforms before expanding further. As enforcement progresses, the regulation is expected to reshape how young users engage with digital spaces, placing safety and wellbeing at the centre of the conversation.
