Indonesia Bans Social Media for Under-16s, Following Australia’s Lead

Indonesia has become the latest country to bar children under 16 from social media, with Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid announcing that account deactivations will begin on March 28, citing threats from online pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud and internet addiction.

“Accounts belonging to children under 16 on high-risk platforms will start to be deactivated, beginning with YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox,” Hafid said in a statement. “The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of the algorithm. Implementation will begin on March 28, 2026.” The ban will be introduced in stages, she added, until all platforms have fulfilled their obligations.

The move follows Australia’s decision to become the world’s first country to legislate a social media ban for under-16s, with fines for non-compliant platforms of up to $32 million. Indonesia’s action mirrors Australia’s age threshold but goes further in scope, extending restrictions beyond social media to online gaming and e-commerce platforms.

The restrictions will be tiered by age. Children under 13 will be limited to platforms built specifically for their age group, while those aged 13 to 16 will be permitted only on services classified as low risk, and only with parental consent. Sanctions will fall on the platforms, not on users or their families.

Indonesia joins a growing roster of governments moving to restrict minors’ online access. France, Denmark, Greece and Spain are pressing for similar measures at the European Union level, while India is also weighing action.