Google will soon block users under 16 in Indonesia from uploading videos, posting Shorts, or leaving comments on YouTube, complying with government child protection regulations that take effect this year. The platform announced the coming restrictions on its Indonesian Help Community forum, tying the changes to Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025, known as PP Tunas.
YouTube Enforces Restrictions Under PP Tunas Regulations
YouTube community manager Tammy Wi outlined the impending platform changes in an official notice pinned to the YouTube Help Community forum. The rules implement Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025, which governs electronic systems for child protection in Indonesia. The regulation formally took effect on March 28, following a letter sent by Google to the Indonesian government committing YouTube to a minimum user age of 16.
The notice specifies that users under 16 will lose the ability to upload long-form videos, YouTube Shorts, and community text or image posts. They will also be unable to add comments across the platform. The restrictions also apply retroactively to existing content. Channels, previously uploaded videos, and past remarks left by these users will stop being visible to the public.
Impact on Indonesian Content Creators and Digital Economy
The policy shift carries substantial weight for Indonesia’s digital creator economy. According to YouTube data reported by Katadata in June 2025, Indonesia accounted for 3,000 of the 7,600 South-east Asian YouTube channels boasting more than one million subscribers. The removal of content published by underage creators affects young influencers, sponsoring brands, and overall engagement metrics nationwide.
The latest notice differs from previous communications issued by the platform. In April, YouTube informed Indonesian users that those under 16 might lose sign-in access entirely. The current update clarifies that the restrictions target specific publishing and engagement capabilities rather than basic account viewing.
YouTube Plans Individual Rollout with Several Operational Details Unaddressed
YouTube has not established a fixed start date for the restrictions, using only the term “segera,” meaning “soon.” Affected account holders will receive an email notification and an alert inside the YouTube application before the rules take effect on their accounts, indicating an individual rollout rather than a simultaneous nationwide switch.
Several operational details remain unaddressed in the community notice. The documentation does not clarify whether users under 16 will retain the ability to sign in and watch videos, nor does it mention how YouTube will verify a user’s exact age. The notice omits details regarding supervised child and teen accounts, potential impacts on the YouTube Partner Program, creator earnings, and advertising rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About YouTube Under-16 Rules
How will YouTube notify users under 16 before the restrictions apply?
Affected account holders will receive an email and an in-app notification directly inside the YouTube application prior to the enforcement of the restrictions on their individual accounts, as stated in the community forum notice.
What happens to videos and comments already posted by Indonesian minors?
Existing channels, uploaded videos, and past comments left by users under 16 in Indonesia will no longer be visible to other users on the platform once the policy is fully enforced.
Does the new policy ban underage users from watching videos?
The community notice does not specify whether users under 16 will lose the ability to sign in and watch content, leaving open questions previously raised during earlier April communications about account access.