Editor’s Note
- Indonesian rules restricting social media access for minors are being adopted by many countries
- Access to TikTok and Instagram prohibited for children under 16
- Popular rules banning social media access
Indonesian rules restricting social media access for minors are being adopted by many countries
A growing number of countries are following Indonesia’s rules restricting social media access for minors. Germany recently announced plans to implement similar rules.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted he is increasingly convinced that access to social media should be restricted, especially after mounting evidence demonstrating its dangers to children, including the spread of fake news and various forms of online manipulation.
“Do we want fake news, hoaxes, and AI-generated films that do not reflect reality to spread through social media?” he asked in a speech ahead of the annual congress of the conservative Christian Union (CDU), which he leads.
“Do we want our society to be damaged in this way, both internally and externally? And for our children to be put at risk as a result?” he added.
Ban access to TikTok and Instagram for children under 16
Merz claims that many 14-year-olds spend an average of 5.5 hours online per day.
The CDU party conference, scheduled for Friday (February 20) local time, will discuss banning access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for children under 16.
A growing number of European countries are planning or have already begun implementing similar restrictions on social media, including Spain, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom.
Rules banning access to social media are trending again
This rule has become a trend in several countries after Australia introduced a strict rule banning access to social media for children under 16 from December 2025.
Previously, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), also implemented a regulation restricting access to social media, known as PP Tunas, effective from March 2025.
However, it’s important to note that Indonesia’s regulations differ from those of Australia. Indonesia applies restrictions based on the 13-18 age group. Children are still allowed to have social media accounts with parental permission.
Several other Asian countries are also planning restrictions on social media access, more closely modeled on Australia’s, including Malaysia and India. ***obs
