Digital platforms operating in Indonesia are now required to block users under the age of 16, with the country’s communications minister drawing a hard line on enforcement as the regulation took effect Saturday.
Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed at a Friday press conference that X and Bigo Live had already updated their minimum age requirements to meet the new standard. All other platforms with a presence in Indonesia were put on notice to bring “their products, features and services” into line with current law without delay.
“We reiterate that there is no room for compromise regarding compliance, and that every business entity operating in Indonesia is required to adhere to the laws in force within the country,” Meutya said.
TikTok, one of the most widely used platforms among young Indonesians, issued a statement Friday evening signaling it would follow through, saying it was committed to complying with the regulation including “taking appropriate measures related to under-16 accounts” in close consultation with the ministry.
The government announced the ban earlier this month, pointing to risks including online pornography, cyberbullying, and addictive usage patterns as the basis for the restriction. Indonesia’s move places it alongside Australia, which rolled out a comparable policy in December, as Asian and Western governments alike begin translating child safety concerns into binding law.
That push is being reinforced by legal developments in the United States. A Los Angeles jury ruled Wednesday that Meta and YouTube bore liability for harm caused to a young woman through the deliberately addictive architecture of their platforms, awarding $6 million in damages against the two companies. Separately, Britain’s House of Lords voted this week to support a social media ban for minors, increasing pressure on the UK government to act.
Regulators and legislators across multiple jurisdictions are now weighing how far to extend restrictions — and how aggressively to enforce them against platforms that have long operated with minimal age verification.
