The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), will implement age restrictions for children and teenagers accessing high-risk digital platforms from 28 March 2026.
This clarifies earlier reports suggesting full implementation would start in early March.
Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operation in Child Protection (PP Tunas) sets out the rules and requires platforms to limit access for child users.
President Prabowo Subianto signed the regulation on 28 March 2025, according to Kompas.
“Through PP Tunas, the government is postponing children’s access to high-risk digital platforms until the age of 16, and for lower-risk services from the age of 13,”
said Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid.
Meutya emphasised the policy does not aim to cut off or ban children from the internet entirely, but only to delay access to high-risk platforms.
The regulation targets technology companies, not children or parents. Platforms that fail to comply face strict penalties.
The rules consider various digital risks, including exposure to harmful content, interaction with strangers, potential exploitation, and the risk of addiction.
“Even when the content is harmless, excessive use of digital platforms can lead to addiction, which affects children’s mental health and development,”
Meutya said.
The move responds to high internet use among children.
Of 229 million internet users in Indonesia, almost 80% are children.
UNICEF data shows that social media has exposed about 50% of active online children to sexual content, and 42% of children reported that online experiences made them feel scared or uncomfortable.
Government records also indicate 1.45 million cases of online child exploitation.
PP Tunas aims to create safer digital environments by ensuring platforms implement appropriate protections and age-based access controls.
At the same time, it allows children to continue using the internet in a safer, regulated manner.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Indonesia, based on image by freepik and GraceMedia via Freepik
