US EditionIndonesia Starts Phased Deactivation of Under-16 Social Media Accounts
Indonesia requires high-risk platforms to deactivate accounts of 70 million under-16s to protect children from online harms including cyberbullying and addiction, with enforcement phased in gradually.
- On Tuesday, Indonesia's Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid announced the government summoned Meta and Google on Monday to "undergo checks" for failing to implement child protection regulations.
- Indonesia began enforcing a social media ban for users under 16 on Saturday, requiring high-risk platforms to deactivate child accounts amid threats from online pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.
- With about 70 million children under 16, Hafid noted TikTok and Roblox are "making efforts" to comply, while Meta and Google opposed the regulations "from the very beginning."
- Failure to implement the curbs may result in sanctions or a platform block, the ministry warned, as Hafid stated there is "no room for compromise regarding compliance."
- The government intends to focus on platforms demonstrating "goodwill to respect Indonesia" and its legal instruments, following a similar ban in Australia last year over social media's impact on children.
130 Articles
130 Articles
Indonesia flags non-compliance by Meta and Google on under-16 rules
The curbs, which the govt says are aimed at reducing cyberbullying and addiction, follow a similar ban in Australia last year over concerns about the potential harm of social media to young people’s mental health
Indonesia summons Meta, Google over noncompliance with child social media curbs
Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Communications and Digital Minister, says Meta and Google are 'two business entities that are non-compliant with the law' and have been summoned to 'undergo checks'
Indonesia on Saturday began implementing a new government regulation passed earlier this month that bans children under 16 from accessing digital platforms that could expose them to pornographic content, online harassment, fraud or addiction. The move makes Indonesia the first Southeast Asian country to ban children from creating accounts on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads or X (Twitter).
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