Indonesia plans to introduce a regulation establishing a minimum age for social media users as part of efforts to safeguard children online, according to a Reuters report, citing Communications Minister Meutya Hafid.
The announcement comes after Australia implemented a ban preventing children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, imposing fines on companies like Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, if they fail to comply.
While the specific minimum age for Indonesia has not yet been disclosed, Minister Hafid confirmed the plan was discussed with President Prabowo Subianto, who expressed strong support for the initiative.
“The president said to carry on with this plan. He is very supportive of how this kind of child protection will be implemented in our digital space,” Hafid said in a video shared by the president’s office.
Indonesia, with a population of around 280 million, had an internet penetration rate of 79.5% in 2023, according to a survey by the Indonesia Internet Service Providers’ Association. The survey revealed that nearly half of children under 12 had internet access, with some using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Among “Gen Z” users, aged 12 to 27, internet penetration reached 87%.
