Indonesia follows Australia's lead with a landmark social media ban on minors

Investing.com - Indonesia has already begun taking milestone measures to restrict social media use for children under 16 nationwide, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to implement such restrictions. The policy mirrors recent legislative changes in Australia, requiring platforms categorized as “high-risk” (including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube) to disable accounts held by minors, or face severe regulatory penalties.

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Indonesia is estimated to have 70 million citizens under 16. Therefore, this move represents an aggressive attempt by the world’s fourth-most populous country to regulate its digital environment, which is increasingly plagued by issues such as cyberbullying and harmful content.

Risk-based regulation and platform compliance

The new framework distinguishes between “high-risk” services and low-risk platforms, with the former required to completely block access for users under 16. Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed that several major platforms, including X and Roblox, have already started adjusting to meet the new standards.

Reports say TikTok has begun phasing out accounts, while Meta Platforms has moved millions of Indonesian users to “teen accounts,” aiming to provide a lower-risk environment through automated privacy-protective measures.

The government’s mandatory requirement is for all digital platforms to complete a children’s safety self-assessment by June. Noncompliance could lead to restricted access to the Indonesian market; given the country’s higher mobile connectivity rates and social media penetration, this poses a major threat.

The prime minister’s government has framed this as a “shared responsibility” to protect minors from cyber fraud and exploitation. Critics, including human rights advocates, argue that the policy may inadvertently isolate children in remote areas that rely on these platforms for communication and self-expression.

Global trends and market impact

Indonesia’s move signals a growing international trend toward holding “big tech” companies accountable, which complicates the growth trajectory of global social media giants. Neighboring Malaysia has already said it supports the measure, suggesting the region may shift toward uniform age-verification standards across Southeast Asia.

Countries such as Denmark and Brazil are also weighing similar restrictions, as investors consider the rising compliance costs and potential user drop-off risks faced by platforms that have long relied on younger user groups to boost engagement.

The regulatory “barriers” being built around the Indonesian archipelago are seen by many in the tech sector as a key test case. If successful, the Indonesian model could offer a blueprint for other emerging economies seeking to strike a balance between digital innovation and strict social safeguards.

This article was translated with the assistance of AI. For more information, please see our Terms of Use.