JAKARTA - The government has started to enforce Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 (PP Tunas) and its derivative regulations, the Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 9 of 2026, on March 28, 2026. Through this policy, digital platforms are required to limit and disable user accounts under the age of 16 as part of efforts to strengthen child protection in the digital space.
The response from industry players is starting to be seen. The Roblox game platform is one of the fastest to move by preparing additional controls on communication and content features for young users in Indonesia. Responding to this step, a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party Faction, Nurul Arifin, assessed that this initial compliance should be appreciated.
"The steps taken by Roblox show that global platforms can adapt to national regulations. This is important as a signal that child protection must indeed be a shared priority," said Nurul.
He added that compliance from one platform is expected to be followed by other platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X which are also in the high-risk category.
"Don't let there be a selective impression. All platforms must be subject to the same rules," said Nurul.
This member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from West Java District 1 emphasized that this government's step is a form of siding with children in the midst of massive use of the internet. Until now, according to him, children are directly faced with various risks in the digital space without adequate protection.
"The state cannot be indifferent. We are talking about the next generation, so protection must be strengthened," he said.
On the other hand, he did not deny the potential for rejection, especially from teenagers who have been actively using social media. However, according to him, this dynamic is part of the adjustment process.
"There must be adjustments. But if the goal is to protect, this is a step that must be taken," said the Head of the Media Gathering Opinion (MPO) of the Golkar Party.
Boost the Digital Industry
The implementation of this rule is also predicted to encourage changes in the digital industry. Platforms are required to strengthen the age verification system and tighten content supervision, which in the end can form a new standard in the operation of digital services in Indonesia.
At the same time, opportunities are also open. The child-friendly digital ecosystem, including educational content and learning platforms, is expected to grow in tandem with restrictions on access to general platforms.
Nurul sees Indonesia's position as quite strategic in this context. With a large number of young users, this policy can serve as a reference for other countries that face similar challenges.
"If this goes well, Indonesia can be an example of how child protection in the digital space is implemented seriously," he said.
He also reminded the importance of socialization so that this policy does not stop at the regulatory level, but is really understood by the community.
"Parents, children, even schools need to be involved. Because in the end this is about building a healthier digital culture," said Nurul.
With the start of the implementation of PP Tunas, Indonesia enters a new phase in the management of digital space - not only about access, but also about responsibility and protection for young generations.
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