Indonesia Restricts Social Media Access for Under-16s, Receives Praise from French President Macron

Jakarta – Indonesia has enacted regulations prohibiting individuals under the age of 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms. The policy has garnered praise from French President Emmanuel Macron, who lauded Indonesia’s commitment to protecting young people in the digital realm.

Macron acknowledged the new rules via his X (formerly Twitter) account, responding to a tweet from the AFP news agency. “Thanks for joining the movement,” Macron wrote on Friday, March 6, 2026.

France Leads the Way in Digital Protection for Youth

France previously approved a draft law in January 2026 prohibiting the use of digital platforms for children under 15 years of age, with Macron as a key advocate for the regulation . France is the second country to implement such restrictions, following Australia’s similar regulations for children under 15.

New Regulations Align with PP Tunas

The Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Digital (Komdigi) issued the regulations in alignment with Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection, as well known as PP Tunas. Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, announced the release of a Ministerial Regulation as a derivative of PP Tunas on Friday, March 6, 2026.

“Through this regulation, the government delays access to accounts for children under 16 years on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and networking services,” Meutya stated.

Indonesia a First Mover in the Global South

According to Komdigi, this policy positions Indonesia as one of the first non-Western countries to implement age-based restrictions on access to digital platforms. The move is a response to growing concerns about children’s vulnerability to online threats, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online fraud, and digital addiction.

“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats, ranging from exposure to pornography, cyber bullying, online fraud, and most importantly, addiction,” Meutya explained.

Phased Implementation and Platform Compliance

The implementation of the policy will start on March 28, 2026, with a phased deactivation of accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 on high-risk platforms. Currently, these platforms include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, and Bigo Live. Komdigi will work with platforms to ensure full compliance with the new regulations.

Meutya acknowledged that the implementation may cause initial inconvenience for both children and parents. “We are aware that the implementation of this regulation may cause inconvenience at first. Children may complain, and parents may be confused about dealing with their children’s complaints,” she said.

The government emphasizes that the policy aims to support parents in protecting their children from the negative impacts of the digital space and reduce the burden of monitoring technology use on families.