Following countries such as Australia, Spain, and France, Indonesia has now begun steps to ban social media for children under 16. As announced by its communication and digital affairs minister last Friday, March 6, 2026.

Minister Meutya Hafid said in a statement that the restrictions would protect children from online harms, and that the government had signed a regulation that would gradually stop children under 16 years from having accounts on platforms deemed to be a “high risk”.

These platforms include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. The restrictions will start on March 28, 2026, although the ministry has yet to release details on how the ban will be implemented.

“The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly, addiction. The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms,” Hafid said.

Hafid acknowledges that the execution could prove difficult for families.

“We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain, and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children’s complaints,” she said.

With Indonesia’s population of 285 million, the world's fourth-largest, the ban will surely be felt across social media platforms. Indonesia will be the first Southeast Asian country to ban social media for underage users. Malaysia announced a similar directive last year, but has yet to set a specific implementation date.

Do you think a similar ban will work in the Philippines? Read up on our story, written last January, here.