Indonesia plans to implement interim guidelines to protect children on social media as it works toward creating a law to establish a minimum age for users, a senior communications ministry official announced on Wednesday. The move follows discussions between Communications Minister Meutya Hafid and President Prabowo Subianto, aiming to address concerns about online safety for children.

The proposed law will mirror recent regulations in Australia, which banned children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, penalising tech companies that fail to comply. In the meantime, Indonesia will issue regulations requiring platforms to follow child protection guidelines, focusing on shielding children from harmful content while still allowing access to some degree.

Public opinion on the initiative is divided. While parents like Nurmayanti support stricter controls to reduce exposure to harmful material, human rights advocates, including Anis Hidayah, urge caution to ensure children’s access to information is not unduly restricted. A recent survey revealed nearly half of Indonesian children under 12 use the internet, with many accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

This regulatory push reflects Indonesia’s broader efforts to balance digital innovation with safeguarding younger users in its rapidly growing online landscape