Alongside the ban on social media and other online platforms, the Indonesian Government will publish guidelines on device use in schools.
Indonesia is joining a growing trend of countries in restricting or banning social media use of under 16s. However, Indonesia’s ban doesn’t just include social media companies, but other ‘high risk’ platforms. Under 16s will have their accounts deactivated (from 28th March) for platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Roblox and Bigo Live.
According to a survey by the Indonesia Internet Service Providers Association 48% of children under 12 in the country have access to the internet, with some respondents using Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Accounts that will be banned for under 16s are those categorised by the Government as ‘high risk’ for young people. They will give platforms a ‘three-month window to complete their self-assessment and seek a low-risk category.’
Critics of the ban say that the Government should ‘not only focus on banning unsafe platforms, but also on providing child-friendly online services and protecting children’s rights to digital information, education and expression’.
What’s behind the ban?
Unicef’s 2023 baseline study of Indonesian children’s online activities and experiences, found that:
- 89% of children use the internet on a daily basis, for an average of 5.4 hours a day.
- 51% of children do not talk to anyone about their online activity.
- 13.4% of children have ‘secret accounts’ from their parents.
- 32.1% of children shared personal information with someone they don’t know, and 24% met someone in person that they first met online.
- 50.3% of children have seen sexual images on social media.
- 2% of children have been threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities.
- Only 37.5% of children said they have received information about how to be safe online.
- 37% of children said they would not report unpleasant online experiences to the police, due to fear and lack of knowledge about how to report.
Speaking about the ban, Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Affairs Minister, Meutya Hafid, said:
“Our children are facing increasingly real threats – ranging from exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and online scams, to addiction, which is the most significant concern…The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of algorithm-driven platforms.”
Devices in school
Alongside the ban, the Indonesian Government has begun to introduce new guidelines on the use of electronic devices at school. Setting guidance around screentime, advising that students take regular screen breaks, and recommending that devices can only be accessed in certain areas of schools. The ban and guidance is relates to the ministry’s Safe and Comfortable School Culture regulation, which focuses on ‘five pillars of school safety’: spiritual fulfilment, physical protection, psychological well-being, socio-cultural security, and digital civility.
The regulation is focused on making schools free from violence, as well as improving pupil mental health and their relationships with everyone in their school community.
Learn more about the social media ban
References
- Kertopati, L., Ajengrastri, A. and Armstrong, K. (2026) ‘Indonesia to ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg50168ddgo (Accessed: 13 March 2026)
- Carroll, M. (2026) ‘Indonesia to ban ‘high risk’ social media for under-16s’. Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/indonesia-to-ban-high-risk-social-media-for-under-16s-13516062 (Accessed: 13 March 2026)
- Uli, M. (2026) ‘Indonesian schools ministry to regulate screen time for students’. Available at: https://asianews.network/indonesian-schools-ministry-to-regulate-screen-time-for-students/ (Accessed: 13 March 2026)
- ANTARA (2026) ‘Indonesia issues new rules to boost school safety, mental health’. Available at: https://en.antaranews.com/news/407187/indonesia-issues-new-rules-to-boost-school-safety-mental-health (Accessed: 13 March 2026)
- UNICEF (2025) ‘Online Knowledge and Practice of Children in Indonesia: A Baseline Study 2023’. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/indonesia/media/22561/file/infographic-online-knowledge-practice-Indonesia-baseline-study-2023.pdf.pdf (Accessed: 13 March 2026)
