Indonesia Enforces Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Indonesia has initiated the enforcement of a social media ban for children under the age of 16, effective from Saturday. The Minister of Communication and Information, Meutya Hafid, announced this decision during a press conference on Friday, emphasizing that there is no room for compromise regarding compliance with the new regulations.

The ban was implemented due to increasing concerns about online pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction among children. Digital platforms, including Bigo Live, are required to comply with the new rules immediately, adjusting their minimum user age accordingly.

TikTok has also stated its commitment to comply with the regulations and will take appropriate measures concerning accounts belonging to users under 16. This ban follows similar policies enacted in Australia in December and reflects a growing global recognition of the potential harms social media can pose to children.

Recent legal findings in Los Angeles have also highlighted the liability of companies like Meta and YouTube for harm caused to young users.