Indonesia to ban 'high risk' social media for under-16s

Indonesia has become the latest and most populous country to say it will ban social media for under-16s.

The country - which has the fourth biggest population in the world - has approved new restrictions designed to protect young people online.

And with high levels of internet use among its more than 284 million people, the ban could have a big impact.

Since Australia brought in the world's first ban of under-16s on social media in December, a succession of other countries - including Spain, France, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece and Italy - have said they plan to do the same.

Indonesia's communications and digital minister Meutya Hafid said her government would "delay access" for under-16s until platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Roblox, "perform their obligations".

She did not elaborate on what the obligations are.

From 28 March, accounts belonging to teenagers under 16 on the "high-risk platforms" would be gradually deactivated, the minister announced.

"We realise this may cause discomfort in the beginning," Ms Hafid said in a video statement.

"Children may complain and parents may be confused dealing with their complaints."

She said Indonesia would be the first non-Western ​country to impose such restrictions, and said they were needed because: "Our children are facing risks, from porn, cyberbullying, online fraud to most importantly, ⁠addiction."

Malaysia will begin enforcing a ban this year, after lawmakers voted for the restrictions in November.

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Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, told Sky News that when it comes to social media bans, it wants the "same thing as policymakers: safe, positive online experiences for young people".

The social media giant said it couldn't comment on Indonesia's ban as it hasn't received the regulation yet, but that it believes "parents should decide which apps their teens use".

"We support laws that empower parents to approve teen app downloads on the app store," said the Meta spokesperson.

"Governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, unregulated sites, or logged out experiences that bypass important protections - like the default safeguards we offer in Instagram and Facebook Teen Accounts."

A YouTube spokesperson told Sky News: "YouTube is a high quality video sharing platform that has spent more than a decade investing in children's safety.

"We are reviewing the new regulation to ensure it supports this goal, empowers parents, and preserves access to learning for millions of Indonesians. We will continue to engage constructively with the government, and remain committed to protecting youth in the digital world, not from it."

TikTok, Roblox and X did not immediately respond to Sky News' request for comment.

Around 79.5% of Indonesia's population use the internet, according to a 2024 survey of 8,700 people by the Indonesia internet service providers' association.

The research also showed showed 48% of children under 12 had access to the internet, with some respondents of that age group using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

It revealed internet use rose to 87% among "Gen Z" users aged 12 to 27.

(c) Sky News 2026: Indonesia to ban 'high risk' social media for under-16s