Investing.com — Indonesia has begun enforcing a landmark nationwide restriction on social media usage for children under 16, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to implement such curbs. The policy, which mirrors recent legislative shifts in Australia, requires platforms classified as “high risk”, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, to deactivate accounts held by minors or face severe regulatory sanctions.
The country has an estimated 70 million citizens under the age of 16. Hence, the move represents an aggressive attempt by the world’s fourth-most populous nation to police a digital landscape increasingly defined by concerns over cyberbullying and harmful content.
The new framework distinguishes between “high-risk” services and lower-risk platforms, with the former required to prevent access to users under 16 entirely. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed that several major players, including X and Roblox, have already initiated changes to align with the new standards.
TikTok has reportedly begun a staggered deactivation of accounts, and Meta Platforms has transitioned millions of Indonesian users into “teen accounts” designed to provide a lower-risk environment through automated privacy safeguards.
The government’s mandate requires all digital platforms to complete a child safety self-assessment by June. Failure to comply could result in restricted access within the Indonesian market, a significant threat given the country’s high rates of mobile connectivity and social media penetration.
The Prime Minister’s administration has framed the move as a “shared responsibility” to protect minors from online fraud and exploitation. Critics, including human rights advocates, argue the policy could inadvertently isolate children in remote regions who rely on these platforms for communication and self-expression.
Indonesia’s move signals a growing international trend toward “Big Tech” accountability that is complicating the growth trajectories of global social media giants. Neighboring Malaysia has already expressed support for the measure, suggesting a potential regional shift toward harmonized age-verification standards across Southeast Asia.
Nations like Denmark and Brazil are also weighing similar restrictions as investors consider the rising compliance costs and potential user-base erosion facing platforms that have long relied on youthful demographics for engagement.
