Children under 16 in Indonesia will no longer be able to hold social media accounts from 28 March 2026. The Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation No. 9 of 2026 requires platforms — including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook — to deactivate accounts belonging to children under that age.
The policy follows Australia, which introduced a similar ban in December 2025. However, the regulation does not specify what age verification technology platforms must use.
A mother from Jakarta, Ditta, welcomed the new rule. She said she believes social media does more harm than good for children, citing shorter attention spans, declining reading habits, and privacy risks. She hopes the government regulation will support parents who have struggled to limit their children's screen time, especially when their surroundings do not help, she said.
On the other hand, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said he acknowledges the real dangers social media poses to children. However, he said the government should not impose a blanket ban.
A total ban could strip tens of millions of young Indonesians of their right to communicate, access information and voice their opinions, Hamid said. A proportional and selective approach targeting harmful content, he added, would be more appropriate than shutting off access entirely.
Listen to the full SBS Indonesian conversation with Ditta and Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid to hear more about their views on this policy.
