Indonesia Enforces Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

The government of Indonesia has officially implemented a nationwide ban restricting children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, in a major move aimed at strengthening online safety for minors.

The regulation, which took effect this week, requires major tech platforms including Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and Google (owner of YouTube) to prevent underage users from creating or maintaining accounts. Popular apps such as TikTok and Roblox are also included under the new policy.

Authorities say the decision is designed to protect children from growing online risks, including cyberbullying, harmful content exposure, and excessive screen time. Officials highlighted increasing concerns over the mental health impact of social media on young users.

Under the new framework, companies are expected to introduce stricter age verification systems and remove accounts that do not comply with the age limit. The government has warned that failure to enforce the rules could result in penalties or restrictions on platform operations within the country.

However, experts have raised concerns over implementation challenges, particularly the difficulty of accurately verifying users’ ages and preventing minors from bypassing restrictions through false information.

The move places Indonesia among a growing number of countries tightening regulations on children’s digital access, reflecting a broader global push to ensure safer online environments for younger audiences.