Indonesia's government announced Friday that it will ban children under 16 from using major social media platforms, marking the first such measure in Southeast Asia.

Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stated that accounts owned by minors under 16 on high-risk platforms will be gradually deactivated starting March 28. Affected platforms include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, X, Roblox, and Bigo Live.

"Our children are facing increasingly real threats—ranging from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online scams, to addiction, which is the most significant concern," Hafid said. She emphasized that the government is intervening so parents "no longer have to fight alone against the giants of algorithm-driven platforms."

The policy stems from Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025, known as PP Tunas, which prohibits platforms from allowing child access without age minimums and bans data collection on minors. Platforms face sanctions, including warnings, fines, and access termination for non-compliance. Indonesia, with a population of 285 million and over 200 million social media users, views this as a response to a "digital emergency."

Enforcement will require platforms to implement age verification, with a gradual rollout to ensure compliance. TikTok, Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), and Roblox have not yet commented.

The move follows Australia's national ban on social media for under-16s enacted in December 2025, Spain's restriction last month, and Malaysia's planned ban later this year. Indonesia previously blocked sites like Pornhub and conducted inspections on Meta over harmful content.

Parents in Jakarta welcomed the decision. "It has been very worrying for minors... some [content] is misleading," said Marianah, 43. Others called for blocks on gambling and porn sites. A 17-year-old, Matt Joseph, acknowledged screen time issues but suggested gentler approaches. Rights group ELSAM raised concerns about data privacy in age verification.