Indonesia is calling on social media platforms to disclose the number of accounts suspended under new regulations restricting access for children under 16, authorities said on Wednesday. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stressed that compliance alone is insufficient, demanding public reporting for transparency.
The regulation, implemented at the end of March, bans children under 16 from digital platforms that may expose them to pornography, cyberbullying, scams, and addiction. Hafid noted that young Indonesians spend up to eight hours online daily, affecting some 70 million children and young people.
TikTok was the first to report progress, deactivating 1.7 million accounts belonging to under-16s. Seven of eight high-risk platforms—including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, and Bigo Live—have committed to restricting access. However, gaming platform Roblox has not agreed, and YouTube has yet to specify how many accounts it has suspended.
Hafid acknowledged challenges in enforcement, allowing platforms to choose their own age verification methods. Critics, like Nenden Sekar Arum of digital rights group SAFEnet, highlight privacy concerns and the ease with which children might bypass restrictions using fake IDs or parental accounts. Arum emphasised the need for government oversight to ensure a safe digital ecosystem.
