Commission I of the DPR asks Komdigi to socialize the prohibition of social media for children under 16 years old
JAKARTA - Commission I of the DPR supports the policy of the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) which prohibits children under the age of 16 from having accounts on a number of social media platforms and digital platforms. Komdigi is asked to prepare technical instructions and carry out massive socialization to the public regarding the ban.
Member of Commission I of the DPR, Oleh Soleh, assessed that this government's move was right and in line with the aspirations he had conveyed regarding child protection in the digital space.
"This ban is very appropriate. Children under the age of 16 are not yet ready to have a social media account," said Oleh Soleh, Monday, March 9.
"So far, I have also voiced this as part of efforts to protect children from the negative impact of the digital world," added the legislator from the West Java Dapil XI.
The ban includes various popular platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. This policy is contained in Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic System Providers in Child Protection or known as PP Tunas.
According to Oleh Soleh, at that age, children should be more focused on learning activities and self-development, without being distracted by social media.
"Children under the age of 16 must focus on learning and developing their abilities. Do not let their education and growth be disrupted by the use of social media that is not age-appropriate," he said.
Even so, Oleh Soleh emphasized that after the regulation was issued, the government needed to immediately prepare technical steps so that the policy could run effectively. He asked the government to immediately issue implementation instructions (juklak) and technical instructions (juknis) as a guide for implementation in the field.
"After the rules are issued, the government must immediately prepare juklak and juknis so that the implementation is clear and does not cause confusion," he said.
In addition, Oleh Soleh also encouraged Komdigi to carry out extensive socialization to the public so that the policy can be well understood by parents, schools, and digital platform organizers.
"Socialization must be carried out massively. Komdigi needs to work with various institutions, including related ministries, educational institutions, and community organizations so that this rule is really understood and implemented effectively," he said.
With this step, he hopes that child protection in the digital space can run more optimally. "At the same time, create a safer digital environment for the younger generation," concluded Oleh Soleh.