Indonesia Bans Social Media for Under-16s, Following Australia’s Lead: ‘Parents No Longer Have to Fight Alone Against the Giants of the Algorithm’

Indonesia has become the latest country to bar children under 16 from social media, with Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid announcing that account deactivations will begin on March 28, citing threats from online pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud and internet addiction. “Accounts belonging to children under 16 on high-risk platforms will start to be deactivated, […] Home Digital News Mar 6, 2026 2:28am PT Indonesia Bans Social Media for Under-16s, Following Australia’s Lead: ‘Parents No Longer Have to Fight Alone Against the Giants of the Algorithm’ By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest Amazon MGM Studios Taps Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu Veteran Buddy Marini to Head Japan 4 hours ago ‘Paddington,’ ‘Into the Woods’ Lead 2026 Olivier Awards Nominations 22 hours ago Timothée Chalamet Kicks Off Asia Tour as ‘Marty Supreme’ Hits $172 Million Globally, Eyes $200 Million Milestone 23 hours ago See All Getty Images Indonesia has become the latest country to bar children under 16 from social media, with Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid announcing that account deactivations will begin on March 28, citing threats from online pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud and internet addiction. “Accounts belonging to children under 16 on high-risk platforms will start to be deactivated, beginning with YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox,” Hafid said in a statement. “The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of the algorithm. Implementation will begin on March 28, 2026.” The ban will be introduced in stages, she added, until all platforms have fulfilled their obligations. Related Stories CBS Denies Forcing Stephen Colbert to Not Air Interview With Democratic Candidate, Says It Provided 'Legal Guidance' About FCC Equal-Time Rule