JAKARTA: Indonesia has introduced new rules for social media companies, telling them to strictly check users’ ages and stop children under 16 from using their platforms, with officials saying the rules must be followed without exception.
The regulation aims to protect young users from risks such as online pornography, cyberbullying and internet addiction, as global concerns continue to grow over the effects of social media on children’s wellbeing.
YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox, deemed “high-risk” platforms by authorities in the Southeast Asian nation, will from Saturday start deactivating underage accounts.
Meutya Hafid, the Communications Minister confirmed that some platforms, including X and Bigo Live, have already complied with the new rules by adjusting their minimum user age requirements.
“We reiterate that there is no room for compromise regarding compliance, and that every business entity operating in Indonesia is required to adhere to the laws in force within the country,” she said, urging other companies operating in Indonesia to promptly update their services, features and policies to meet the legal standards.
The primary school child is one of about 70 million children the Indonesian government hopes to shield from the threats of cyberbullying, pornography and internet addiction.
The move comes amid a broader global push to regulate children’s access to social media. Australia introduced a similar ban in December, while lawmakers in the United Kingdom have recently supported comparable restrictions.
In the United States, concerns have also intensified after a jury in Los Angeles ruled that Meta and YouTube were responsible for harm caused to a young woman due to the addictive nature of their platforms, ordering $6 million in damages.
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