Indonesia's government plans to block social media access for children under 16, requiring platforms to deactivate "high risk" accounts starting March 28. Platforms identified as high risk include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Roblox.
Company officials from TikTok and YouTube are in discussions with the government, reviewing the regulation and emphasizing their existing safety features for teens. Meta has expressed concern that such bans might push teens toward less safe, unregulated online experiences.
This move aligns with a global trend of governments imposing social media curbs on minors due to growing safety and mental health concerns.
Main topics: Indonesia's social media ban for under-16s, platform responses, and global context of child safety online.
TikTok and video platform YouTube are in discussions with Indonesia's government about its plan to block social media access for children under 16 starting later this month, company officials said on Monday.
Indonesia will require platforms to deactivate "high risk"social âmedia accounts â for under â 16s, according to a newministerial regulation distributed on Monday.
Roblox, Instagram, Google's YouTube and TikTok, owned byChina's ByteDance, were among platforms identified by theCommunications and Digital Ministry last week as being highrisk. YouTube said it was reviewing the new regulation to ensureit empowers parents and preserves â access to âlearning formillions of Indonesians. "We will continue to engageconstructively with the government and remain committed toprotecting â youth in the digital world, not from it," aspokesperson said.
TikTok was "engaging with the ministry âto betterunderstand the provisions" in the new regulation, a spokespersonsaid, adding teen accounts on TikTok have more than 50 presetsafety, privacy, and security features. The deactivation would take effect on March 28, said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's âCommunications and Digital Minister.
In a response on Friday, prior to the release of theregulation, Meta, which owns Instagram and â Facebook, said"governments considering bans should be careful not to pushteens toward less safe, unregulated sites, or logged outexperiences that bypass important protections," adding therewere default safeguards for Instagram and Facebook TeenAccounts.
A number of governments, including Australia's, haveimposed curbs on social media for children amid mountingconcerns over safety and mental health among users who areminors.
Indonesia will require platforms to deactivate "high risk"social âmedia accounts â for under â 16s, according to a newministerial regulation distributed on Monday.
Roblox, Instagram, Google's YouTube and TikTok, owned byChina's ByteDance, were among platforms identified by theCommunications and Digital Ministry last week as being highrisk. YouTube said it was reviewing the new regulation to ensureit empowers parents and preserves â access to âlearning formillions of Indonesians. "We will continue to engageconstructively with the government and remain committed toprotecting â youth in the digital world, not from it," aspokesperson said.
TikTok was "engaging with the ministry âto betterunderstand the provisions" in the new regulation, a spokespersonsaid, adding teen accounts on TikTok have more than 50 presetsafety, privacy, and security features. The deactivation would take effect on March 28, said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's âCommunications and Digital Minister.
In a response on Friday, prior to the release of theregulation, Meta, which owns Instagram and â Facebook, said"governments considering bans should be careful not to pushteens toward less safe, unregulated sites, or logged outexperiences that bypass important protections," adding therewere default safeguards for Instagram and Facebook TeenAccounts.
A number of governments, including Australia's, haveimposed curbs on social media for children amid mountingconcerns over safety and mental health among users who areminors.
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