Puan Supports Social Media Ban for Children Under 16: Currently Freedom is Too Kebablasan

Screenshot of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani delivering her speech at the DPR RI Plenary Meeting Opening of the IV Session of the 2025-2026 Session (ANTARA/YouTube/TVR Parliament/Fath Putra Mulya)

JAKARTA - The Chair of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, supports the steps taken by the Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid, who prohibits the use of social media for children under 16 years of age. Puan hopes that there will be other age restrictions such as the implementation of digital media use in other countries.

"The DPR supports what the relevant ministries have done to limit social media for children. Currently, it is only for the age of 16, of course, in the future we hope it can also be limited for other ages because other countries have also done this," said Puan at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, March 10.

Puan assessed that the use of various social media in the country is so massive and often excessive. So it needs evaluation and rules that limit the use of social media for certain ages.

"Because right now what is freedom of social media is too excessive, of course for children it may not be good for children, so it must be re-evaluated," said Puan.

It is known that the Indonesian government has officially banned the use of social media for children under 16 years of age, following similar enforcement in a number of countries. Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid, said this step is a manifestation of the country's involvement in not letting parents "fight alone against the algorithm giant."

The rules regarding access to social media are outlined in the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Digital Number 9 of 2026. The plan is for the rules to be implemented starting March 28.

As a preliminary step, the government asked electronic system organizers (PSE) or social media platforms to deactivate children's accounts under the age of 16. The first target is YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Thread, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

The process will be taken gradually until all platforms carry out their compliance obligations. The Minister of Komdigi admitted that the newly released regulation might cause inconvenience at first but this step is considered the best step that the government must take in the midst of a digital emergency.

"We take this step to reclaim the sovereignty of our children's future. We want technology to humanize people, not to bury our children's childhood," Meutya said in Jakarta, Friday, March 6.