<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/indonesia" rel="" target="" title="Indonesia"><span>Indonesia</span></a><span> will ban </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/social-media" rel="" target="" title="social media"><span>social media</span></a><span> for children under 16, the country's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hafid in a statement to media said that she just signed a government regulation that will mean children under the age of 16 can no longer have accounts on high-risk digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The implementation will start gradually from March 28, until all platforms fulfill their compliance obligations.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pauline-hanson-policies-stance-on-immigration-housing-voting-record-explained/1a21d57d-cddd-4ba5-b1ce-0b564e205b79" target="_blank"><strong><span>One Nation's popularity is surging. But what does Pauline Hanson's party actually stand for?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction," Hafid said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms.”</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She added that the government is taking this step as the best effort in the midst of a digital emergency to reclaim sovereignty over children’s futures.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/indonesia-will-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16-communication-minister-says/634d7359-f9e6-4b2d-8c63-fc96b56eca55" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children’s complaints,” Hafid said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents and parents in Jakarta welcomed the government’s restrictions on access to social media, especially because children have access to social media through mobile phones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“I think that it has been very worrying for minors, especially children. Because they have too much freedom with photos, videos and everything," Marianah, 43, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some education is educational, but some is misleading. So we really need to sort through social media again."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others suggested that the government should also block other harmful websites, such as pornography and online gambling sites.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“As parents, we hope that online gambling and pornography websites can also be removed," Jakarta resident Harianto, 49, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So, in a sense, the government must also be fair. This is for the sake of the people themselves, for the children, and for the children’s growth and development."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this week, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs conducted a surprise inspection of Meta Platforms’ Jakarta office over concerns about the handling of harmful content on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-intense-israeli-strikes-hit-iran-and-lebanon-as-us-warns-the-bombardment-will-surge-dramatically/54df6dd0-a095-4f6e-aa8d-3973335f1500" rel="" target="" title="US warns the bombardment will 'surge dramatically'"><strong><span>US warns the bombardment will 'surge dramatically'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ministry in a statement said that through this inspection, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology issued a stern warning regarding Meta’s low level of compliance with national regulations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Associated Press has sent email requests for comment to TikTok and Meta, but has not yet received a response.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Indonesia will be the first country in south-east Asia to restrict the access of children to social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The restriction of social media access for teens began in Australia in December 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other countries, including Spain, France, and the UK are also taking or are considering measures to restrict minors’ access to social media amid growing concern that children are being harmed by exposure to unregulated social media content.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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