Indonesia will soon become the latest country to pass laws restricting children from accessing social media, following in the footsteps of Australia and its neighbor Malaysia.
But unlike Australia, which has banned users under 16 from social media altogether, Indonesia is taking a more age-gated approach to its restrictions.
Indonesia’s communication and digital ministry said on Friday that it would delay children’s access to social media platforms: Children 13 or older will be able to use platforms the country deems “lower-risk,” while “higher-risk” platforms will be only open to users above 16 years old.
Platforms deemed “higher-risk” include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, the country’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said in a video posted to Instagram.
The measures are expected to be enforced one year after they’re signed into regulation on March 28, 2026.
Indonesia is not the only country passing age restrictions for social media use. Over the past few months, several countries have announced plans to restrict social media access for children and teens, including Denmark, Spain, France, Malaysia and the U.K.
Indonesia maintains the goal is not to stop children from using the internet, but to make sure they use it safely and at the right age.
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