Indonesia Orders Under-16 Accounts Deactivated on 8 Platforms From March 28
Updated
Updated · EFF · Jun 5
Indonesia Orders Under-16 Accounts Deactivated on 8 Platforms From March 28
3 articles · Updated · EFF · Jun 5
Summary
Indonesia will deactivate social media accounts held by users under 16 on eight “high-risk” platforms from March 28, Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said.
The order covers YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, part of a policy Hafid said would make Indonesia the first non-Western country to delay children’s access by age.
The move follows Australia’s late-2025 ban on under-16 social media accounts, which forces platforms to block new accounts and deactivate existing ones or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
Malaysia is pursuing a similar under-16 ban for major platforms, while Brazil, the UK and the EU are expanding age-check rules, widening a global shift toward stricter online age verification.
With millions of teen accounts deleted, do these global social media bans actually make children safer from online exploitation?
As AI-driven dangers surge, are social media bans for teens a real solution or a path to mass surveillance for all?
Indonesia Bans Social Media for 70 Million Children Under 16: Implementation, Impacts, and Challenges
Overview
Indonesia's ban on social media for children under 16, effective March 28, 2026, marks a major change for about 70 million young people. The government requires all digital platforms to follow strict new age rules, with no room for compromise. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid stressed immediate compliance, and the government has set up clear enforcement, including fines for violators. This strong stance is meant to protect children online, but it also challenges platforms to quickly adjust their services. The policy signals a new era in digital regulation, aiming to create a safer online environment for Indonesia's youth.