Indonesia's social media ban for people under 16 officially takes effect

MaticHoleFiller · 2026-03-30T11:13:33+00:00

Indonesia has implemented a social media ban for minors under 16 starting March 28, aimed at preventing issues such as online pornography and bullying. The Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs has required all digital platforms to comply with the new regulations, and major social media platforms have already responded. This move makes Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such a ban, and similar measures have attracted global attention.

MaticHoleFiller

2026-03-30 11:13:33

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Sourced from: Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 29—The Indonesian government has officially implemented a social media ban targeting people under 16 starting March 28, in an effort to prevent teenagers from being drawn into online pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, and internet addiction, among other issues.

Indonesian Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Metyah Hafiz stated at a press conference on March 27 that the government has required all digital platforms operating in the country to immediately adjust their products, features, and services to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Metyah emphasized that there is “no room for compromise” on compliance matters, and that all companies operating in Indonesia must comply with the relevant local laws and regulations.

December 23, 2025, a woman takes a photo at a lighting festival event in Jakarta, Indonesia. Xinhua photo (Photo by Viri)

At this stage, multiple social media platforms have responded to the Indonesian government’s social media ban. X (formerly Twitter) announced that it would set the minimum age requirement for Indonesian users at 16; YouTube stated that it is ready to participate in cooperation according to the “self-assessment” mechanism specified in the regulations.

When Metyah announced this new rule earlier this month, she said the ban would cover about 70 million teenagers and children in Indonesia. With the new rule officially taking effect, Indonesia has become the first country in Southeast Asia to follow Australia’s example by banning teenagers from opening accounts on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, X, and others.

Australia’s social media ban for people under 16 officially took effect on December 10, 2025, after which about 4.7 million related accounts were shut down. The measure drew widespread global attention, with France and the UK moving forward with legislative processes for similar bans, and countries such as Denmark and New Zealand also considering introducing similar bans. (Wang Yifan)

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