Indonesia to limit social media for under-16s amid safety concerns

Friday 27 - 10:15

Indonesia is set to implement restrictions on social media use for children under 16 starting this Saturday, targeting platforms such as Roblox and TikTok, which have been flagged as high risk for young users. The government says the measures aim to reduce cyberbullying, online addiction, and other harms affecting minors.

While the rules are clear in intention, many parents and children remain uncertain about how the restrictions will be applied in practice. For example, children like 9-year-old Anza Zafran Utama from Bogor spend hours on Roblox, building virtual worlds and interacting with friends, and may soon see limited access under the new regulations.

Parents have expressed mixed feelings. Some support the restrictions as a way to protect children, while others worry about how it will impact their daily routines and online social interactions. The government emphasizes that platforms are expected to implement safeguarding measures to enforce the new rules.

The move follows global trends of regulating youth access to social media. Last year, Australia enacted a ban on certain platforms for minors due to concerns over mental health, while courts in the United States have found major platforms such as Meta and YouTube responsible for creating addictive products that harm young users.

As social media becomes increasingly central to children’s daily lives, Indonesia’s regulations represent an effort to balance online engagement with safety and well-being, though implementation details remain unclear to many families.