JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia began enforcing a ban Saturday on social media use by children under 16, joining a growing wave of governments worldwide moving to restrict minors’ access to digital platforms over concerns about cyberbullying, pornography and internet addiction.
Communications Minister Meutya Hafid announced late Friday that the platforms X and Bigo Live had fully complied with the new rules by adjusting their minimum user age requirements. She warned other companies operating in the country to follow immediately.
“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,” Hafid said.
Jakarta announced the ban earlier this month, citing mounting threats to children’s safety and wellbeing online. With a population of more than 270 million and one of the world’s largest youth demographics, Indonesia represents a significant market for social media companies.
TikTok said in a statement late Friday that it was committed to complying with the regulation, including “taking appropriate measures related to under-16 accounts” in close consultation with the ministry. The company did not elaborate on what those measures would entail.
The Indonesian policy follows a similar ban enacted in Australia in December, part of a broader international reckoning over the impact of social media on young people.
In the United States, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable Wednesday for harming a young woman through the “addictive design” of their platforms, ordering the companies to pay $6 million in damages. The verdict marked a notable legal setback for the tech giants.
In Britain, the upper house of parliament voted this week in favor of banning children from social media, adding pressure on the government to introduce its own restrictions.
Indonesia’s enforcement now places the onus on platforms to verify users’ ages and block underage accounts — a technically challenging task that has drawn skepticism from digital rights advocates who question how effectively such bans can be implemented.
No further details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for noncompliance were immediately available from the ministry.
