• Indonesia will begin banning social media access for under-16s from March 28, 2026.
• The ban targets 'high-risk' platforms including TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
• This regulation aims to protect children from cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content.
• Indonesia is the first non-Western country to implement such a restriction, following similar moves by Australia and Spain.
• Parents and experts express varied opinions on the effectiveness and enforcement of these measures.

Indonesia has announced plans to ban social media access for children under the age of 16, a significant move aimed at curbing online risks such as cyberbullying and addiction. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stated that the gradual implementation will start on March 28, 2026, with accounts on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram being deactivated for under-16 users, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The regulation, characterized by Hafid as a necessary response to a "digital emergency," reflects the government's commitment to protect children from dangers such as exposure to pornography and online fraud. "We want technology to humanize humans, not sacrifice our children's childhood," she emphasized in her statement, which was reported by Africa News and India Times.

Indonesia's move follows similar restrictions in other countries, including Australia, which became the first nation to impose such a ban in December 2025. The Australian legislation requires social media companies to verify users’ ages strictly and has already seen the removal of millions of accounts belonging to minors. Hafid noted that Indonesia will be the first Southeast Asian nation to adopt such measures, as highlighted by South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

Despite support for the initiative, experts have cautioned that enforcement may pose challenges. Many children are adept at bypassing age restrictions online, potentially using adult accounts or creating false identities, as pointed out by Retno Listyarti, chair of the Indonesian Teachers’ Union Federation. There are calls for educational programs for parents and children to better navigate these digital landscapes, as reported by BBC and India Times.