Indonesia has implemented new regulations restricting social media access for children under 16. The government aims to shield minors from harmful online content, including pornography, cyberbullying, scams, and addiction. This makes Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such restrictions, prohibiting underage users from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
The regulation underscores the growing global concern around safeguarding children in the digital age. Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid highlighted the risks posed by high-risk digital platforms, emphasizing the need to protect the estimated 70 million children in Indonesia from potential online threats.
Ensuring compliance from various digital platforms and monitoring under-16 account deactivations will be complex tasks. However, Hafid emphasized the importance of prioritizing child safety in the digital realm, stating, “We must take steps to save our children.”
While the new policy may disrupt the social media habits of some minors, it underscores the global discourse on balancing online freedoms with safeguarding vulnerable users.
Source: mint – technology