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Indonesia To Ban Social Media For Children Under 16 (theguardian.com) 47

Indonesia will ban children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms as part of a government push to protect minors from harmful content, addiction, and online threats. The rule will roll out starting March 28 and makes Indonesia the first country in Southeast Asia to impose such a restriction. The Guardian reports: Meutya Hafid said in a statement to media said that she signed a government regulation that will mean children under the age of 16 can no longer have accounts on high-risk digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox and Bigo Live, a popular livestreaming site. With a population of about 285 million, the fourth-highest in the world, the south-east Asian nation represents a significant market for social networks.

The implementation will start gradually from 28 March, until all platforms fulfill their compliance obligations. "The basis is clear. Our children face increasingly real threats. From exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online fraud, and most importantly addiction. The government is here so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giant of algorithms," Hafid said.

She added that the government is taking this step as the best effort in the midst of a digital emergency to reclaim sovereignty over children's futures. "We realize that the implementation of this regulation may cause some discomfort at first. Children may complain and parents may be confused about how to respond to their children's complaints," Hafid said.

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Indonesia To Ban Social Media For Children Under 16

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  • by GeekWithAKnife ( 2717871 ) on Saturday March 07, 2026 @09:10AM (#66027812)

    If you wanna do sneaky shit you're gonna have to go outside!

    Sign up now to my new service DroneBook(TM) - which is *not* a social media platform due to its antisocial nature - to record outside activities, comment and send to all your friends! It's FREE!
  • by Gravis Zero ( 934156 ) on Saturday March 07, 2026 @09:42AM (#66027842)

    Now they just need to bad social media for people that are at least 16 and they will have fixed the problems with social media.

  • Because he just lost his Indonesian pedophiles!
  • Ban social media for everyone under 100 years old, that way everybody has to socialize the old fashioned way by conversation with real people in person
    • Do you want Covid? Because that's exactly how you get it.
      • Most of us survived. If you are scared of the possibility you may catch covid, or worse, then go seal yourself in a bubble. The rest of us accept life comes with dangers and we just got to do our best. Same as it's ever been.

    • Don't worry, I'm sure they are working towards killing Internet platforms immunity for user content. When that happens, most small operators will not be able to offer that up, as they won't be able to insure it's free of whatever it is government wants censored at any given moment in time.

      Facebook will stick around with more restrictions. It won't go away. Besides, do you really think the government doesn't monitor the largest network of morons, ahem, citizens in the world? They definitely do.

      I'll take the

      • by Xarius ( 691264 )

        The obvious thing to do is just to kill immunity for platforms that have an algorithm decide what you see (maybe only those over a certain size)

        Chronological feeds of everything you follow / choose to look at? immunity remains

      • I'll take the dangerous Internet that we have because the alternative will just be a corporate controlled commercial space.

        The dangerous internet that we have is a corporate controlled commercial space.

  • What is with every app wanting to use the window title bar for tab or buttons, or other garbage?

  • Everyone is piling into the age and Know Your Customer requirements.

    This is the end of anonymity on the internet. I guess it might be an opportunity for the dark web to become mainstream, but I doubt it. Especially if they do age or KYC verification for the OS.

    • by unixisc ( 2429386 ) on Saturday March 07, 2026 @11:40AM (#66027952)
      That is the real objective of these moves. It's not about the "children", which is already there in most OS settings. It's about eliminating anonymity, so that governments can retaliate against people for dissenting views
      • I have blocked at least 50 or 60 porn accounts from indonesia and the region in general. all were created between november 25' to january 26 and there are hundreds more just from that date range. I guess the flood of new accounts were to justify the ban?
      • Oh...that's so cute.
        You think you have anonymity on the internet
        News at 11... you dont.
    • I'd rather not know any of my customers, but I need them to put food on my table.
    • I think you're right
      they want to do all the criminal things they like while the rest of the population are like blind sheep waiting to be sheered and slaughtered

      The USA started out as a federal republic but has since degenerated into a kleprocratic neo-feudalist banana-republic run by a criminal mafia oligarchy
      • Before you get too wrapped up in your American hatred, I'd like to point out that the article is about Indonesia. I'd also like to point out that similar initiatives are also underway in The UK, The EU, Australia, China... The United States is not alone in this overreach. In fact, they are rather late to the party.

        The end of anonymity on the internet is a global phenomenon.

  • They are kids. While the social media companies may not like it, there is to much risk to letting kids play unattended with anonymous strangers. Also, they have real-life things to do, such as their homework and getting outside. There will be plenty of time later for them to voice their opinions and post their pictures--if their lives are not cut short or ruined by those who want to harm them. Let them be kids for just a little longer.
    • yep 100%

      Give them time to learn critical thinking , they are not born with it, and it takes many years of gradual learning.
      It also gives kids shelter from the Dopamine hits Social Media delivers while their brains are developing

      If you are online, anonymity is an illusion, especially on social media sites.

      If you want real freedom and real anonymity then throw away your cellphone and get off the internet. Get someone else to do your shopping for you, that is just more data they gather about you.

      An

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